• AUSTRALIA $2.50 • BELGIUM BF60 • CANADA $2.50 • FRANCE FF1 0 • ICELAND Kr200 • NEW ZEALAND $2.50 • SWEDEN Kr12 • UK £1.00 • U.S. $1.50 INSIDE Tour of Pathfinder shop shows advances, need for capital THE -PAGES A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 63,NO. 2 JANUARY 18, 1999 Clinton Black farmers plan rally impeachment • • CTlSlS against discrimination deepens Consent decree in lawsuit is 'settlement, not justice' BY KEN MORGAN BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS AND STU SINGER The impeachment crisis facing U.S. presi­ TILLERY, North Carolina,- The U.S. 500 protest cop killing in California dent William Clinton has deepened and does Department of Agriculture (USDA) an­ not seem to be under anyone's control. nounced an agreement January 5 to settle Whether Clinton will be found guilty and the class-action lawsuit brought by thou­ removed from office, forced to resign, or sands of Black farmers charging the depart­ retain his post after being censured is an ment with decades of racist discrimination. open question. This turn of events is a re­ The consent decree is an attempt to end the flection of the growing instability of the historic suit against the USDA. It was sched­ world capitalist system and the decline of uled to go to trial February 1. The settle­ confidence in its leading figures, not only ment, which has received widespread me­ among millions of working people but dia coverage, is an acknowledgment by the among the rulers themselves. government of the truth of claims by Black The drive to unseat Clinton is led mainly fanners that they were illegally denied loans by rightist politicians. Their main weapon and access to USDA programs. is the "cultural war." This is a term ultra­ Under the agreement, the USDA may rightist Patrick Buchanan popularized in have to pay as much as $300 million de­ 1992. It describes an ideological offensive pending on how many Black farmers meet aimed at reversing affirmative action, school the terms of the consent decree. Many Black desegregation, a woman's right to choose farmers say the settlement is inadequate and abortion, and other gains working people it does not address the continuing discrimi­ made l.n struggle, and for some at carving nation by the Agriculture Department. They the cadre of an incipient fascist movement say it will not reverse the drastic decline in in the process. Sensing what the real target the number of Black farmers. of the impeachment assault is, a majority "It's a settlement, not justice," said farm among working people - especially among leader Gary Grant at a meeting of Black Continued on Page 10 farmer activists January 6 in this northeast­ em North Carolina town. The meeting BY CRAIG HONTS gry shouts against the police punctuated mapped out plans to protest the settlement, RIVERSIDE, California - Five hun­ the march, and when one speaker at the including a call for a national demonstra­ dred demonstrators marched through this rally stated that "not all cops are bad," Washington tion at the federal courthouse in Washing­ Los Angeles-area town January 4 to pro­ many demonstrators responded with ton on March 2 when a "fairness hearing" is test the police killing of 19-year-old shouts of disagreement. Early in the scheduled on the consent decree. Tyisha Miller. The action was organized morning December 28, Tyisha Miller· f:tres 01ore "This is not just a fight about money. This by a coalition ofRiverside religious, civil pulled into a gas station with a flat tire is about justice. We are our brother's keep- rights groups, and family members. An- Continued on Page 12 01issiles at . Continued on Page 14 Iraq, ad01its Steelworkers stand firm against 'inspectors' were spies• Kaiser's union-busting moves BY PHIL DUZINSKI by members of the United Steelworkers of cember 28 and found spirits high, despite BY MAURICE WILLIAMS AND LAURA GARZA America (USWA) enters its fourth month. word that the most recent contract proposal U.S. fighter jets fired air-to-air missiles GRAMERCY, Louisiana -Workers Some 3,000 workers are on strike nation­ by the company is even worse than the 1ast at Iraqi planes flying over southern Iraq picketing the Kaiser Aluminum plant here wide against Kaiser, about 350 in Gramercy · offer made on September 30, and includes January 5. The incident was the third mili­ show determination to fight against the and the others in Ohio and Washington State. different conditions for each local area. tary strike by Washington since the Decem­ bosses' union-busting proposals as a strike These reporters visited the picket line De- Sam Thomas, grievance committee chair­ ber 16--19 bombing oflraq by U.S. and Brit­ man of USWA Local 5702, said they had ish forces that destroyed schools, hospitals, just received the phone book-sized docu­ grain depots, and private homes as well as From Pathfinder ment detailing some of the takebacks the military sites. Meanwhile, Washington has company is demanding, and were in the pro­ been forced to admit that the United Nations cess of analyzing it. "weapons inspectors" snooping around Iraq The Changing Face of u.s. Politics Thomas characterized the company's lat­ est offer as "definitely worse and a step were in fact spies. JACK BARNES Two U.S. Air Force F-15 jets fired mis­ backward. This is more evidence the com­ A handbook for workers coming into the factories, mines, pany is not making a true effort to bargain siles at Iraqi MIG planes and two Navy F- and mills, as they react to the uncertain life, turmoil, and brutal­ 14 jets launched a volley of shots on Iraqi in good faith." ity of capitalism in the closing years of the twentieth century. It MIGs that flew into the "no-fly" zone Wash­ One of the demands, in the name of in­ ington has imposed in Southern Iraq. The shows how millions of workers, as political resistance grows, creasing productivity, would raise the num­ U.S. government established such zones will. revolutionize themselves, their unions, and all of society. ber ofjobs to be eliminated at the Gramercy there and in the north of the country after Also available in Spanish and French. $19.95 facility though outsourcing and job combi­ the 1991 Gulf slaughter, supposedly to pro­ nations from 60 to 65. Another is changing overtime pay from tect Kurds in northern Iraq and Shiite Mus­ Trade Unions in the lims in the south from attacks by the Iraqi receiving time-and-a-half after eight hours military. Epoch of Imperialist Decay worked in a day to premium pay only after After the four-day bombing assault in Trade Unions in the Epoch of Imperialist Decay 40 hours in a week. The proposal would al­ December, French jets stopped patrolling the LEON TROTSKY low arbitrary changes in the start time and southern "no-fly" zone. Paris had ended its Featuring "Trade Unions: Their Past, Present, and Future" by duration of the workweek. The company also proposes to gut senior­ participation in enforcing the no-fly zone in Karl Marx northern Iraq in 1996 after Washington ity with its demand that job placement in In this book, two central leaders of the modern communist bidding be based on so-called "readiness launched a bombing attack. workers movement outline the fight for this revolutionary per­ There are mounting pressures on the U.S. skills," a proposal many workers say is one spective. $14.95 rulers to lift the sanctions strangling 22 mil­ of the most dangerous. As well, each worker would have to requalify annually in order lion Iraqi people. Moscow, Paris, Beijing, Available from bookstores, including those listed on page 12. Continued on Page 3 .. Continued on Page 11 Celebrate 40 years of the Cuban revolution - pages 8-9 IN BRIEF------

Russia, Belarus sign accord for sembly December 21 the country's economy closer economic, political ties grew 1.2 percent in 1998. This was below Moscow and Minsk agreed in mid-De­ Workers in south Korea protest layoffs the government's originally projected Gross cember to facilitate closer economic. and Domestic Product growth target of2.5-3.5 political ties. The governments of Russia and percent. The lower percentage is due to the Belarus signed a declaration calling for a record low sugar harvest, which was devas­ union treaty to be drawn up by the middle of tated by Hurricane Georges; low food crops; 1999. The agreement could lead to a com­ reduced sugar and nickel export prices; a mon currency;· a joint defense, security, and contraction in foreign credits caused by the foreign policy; a common budget; and uni­ worldwide capitalist crisis; and the continu­ fied civil and tax legislation. There is already ing U.S. economic war against Cuba. a customs union between Moscow and the Rodriguez.'said Cuba's economic recovery former Soviet republic ofBelarus. is still on track, citing growth in the tourist Spokespeople for the capitalist rulers of sector, as well as advances in nickel output, the United States and other imperialist pow­ oil and gas production, food and consumer ers oppose this step. A December 30 edito­ goods manufacturing, and fisheries. Cuba rial in the New York Times opined, "If the Council of State vice president, Carlos Lage, merger does move ahead, it would burden added that had it not been for the low sugar an already depleted Russian economy with crop, the economy would have grown by 4 the severe economic problems facing percent last year. Belarus .... Moscow would make it that much harder to pay off its own back wages and Mexico: gov't ends price controls loans and to reestablish credibility with the Under the pretext of "severe budgetary International Monetary Fund and other fi­ pressure," the Mexican government nanciai institutions." The editors fretted that scrapped its last remaining control on food it would also "extend the reach of Russia's prices January 1, cutting the nationwide sub­ armed forces back to Poland's borders." The sidy on tortillas, the country's com staple. Polish government is in the process ofjoin­ The price oftortillas jumped 33 percent, from ing the U.S.-led NATO military alliance, 3 pesos to 4 pesos (about 40 cents) per kilo­ which will bring NATO forces to the border gram. The price of gasoline and diesel fuel of the former Soviet Union. has already risen. The Mexican trade minis­ try claimed the elimination of the subsidy Thailand: 1 million laid off would benefit 40,000 tortilla-producing com­ Some 3,000 south Korean subway workers rallied in early January to protest expected panies supposedly on the brink of bank­ More than 1 million workers in Thailand layoffs. Unemployement there is over 1.5 million people- triple from one year ago. have been officially laid off since the ruptcy due to the price controls. country's currency collapse in July 1997, according to the Financial Times of Lon­ U.S. gov't suspends deportations original bill included a requirement for pa­ 30 years. Family Planning ACT executive ·to Nicaragua and Honduras don. Among the hardest hit have been auto rental consent for women under 18 and im­ director Sandra Mackenzie called the result parts workers. Vehicle sales in the first 11 posed restrictions on which doctors could "a foot in the door" for opponents of Washington suspended deportations months of 1998 were down 64 percent. Ad­ perform the procedure. The law would have women's right to choose. Right to Life Aus­ December 30 ofimmigrants considered ''tem­ ditionally, the minuscule safety net that does forced the closure of the Reproductive tralia head, Margaret Tighe, described it as porary refugees" from Honduras and Nica­ exist for unemployed workers is insufficient. Health Care Services clinic in Canberra. "one small step for mankind." ragua for 18 months, while those from Gua­ One auto parts worker, Kalaya Suwanmalee, Those provisions were removed after con­ temala and El Salvador get only a two-month said "I feel like I've fallen onto the dark side siderable debate. The final bill requires a Australia: native title claim loses extension. The U.S. government asserted that this unequal treatment was because there of life. I have no land in the countryside to womah seeking an abortion to read an offi­ In a December 18 judgment delivered in was greater damage from Hurricane Mitch save me. No cousins to help me either." Only cially sanctioned information booklet, view less than a minute, Federal Court judge in Honduras and Nicaragua. The move af­ 2.5 percent of the country's 10 million in~ pictures of fetuses, and wait three days af­ Howard Olney rejected a native title claim fects approximately 150,000 people from dustrial workers are union members. ter reading the booklet before the procedure over 2,000 square kilometers of land and those two countries and 500,000 from Gua­ can be performed. water on the Victoria-New South Wales bor­ temala and El Salvador. In order to receive Australia law cuts abortion access While abortion is technically illegal in der. Olney said by 1881 the ancestors of the the temporary delay, immigrants facing de­ The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) most Australian states and territories under Yorta Yorta people making the claim no portation must report to the Immigration and Legislative Assembly passed a law tighten­ the various criminal codes, substantial ac­ longer possessed their tribal lands and no ing access to abortion November 26. The cess has been won in practice over the last Naturalization Service, identify themselves, longer lived according to traditional laws. and pay $175 in fees. "Notwithstanding the genuine efforts of the "This is pure discrimination," Amoldo members of the claimant group to revive the Ramos, a Salvadoran who is the director of lost culture of their ancestors, native title the Council of U~tino Agencies, told the rights and interests once lost are not ca­ Washington Post. "Perhaps El Salvador and pable of revival," he ruled. Guatemala weren't hit as hard by the hurri­ Yorta Yorta spokesperson .Monica Mor­ cane, but they were hit very, very hard by gan said an appeal would be considered. U.S. policy in the past." Under new immigra­ "We've been in this country for thousands tion laws, a record high of nearly 300,000 and thousands of years. It will take longer immigrants have been deported from the than a few seconds from a judge to wipe United States over the last two years, double away who we are," she said. the number in the previous two-year period.

Cuba: sugar harvest falls short, -MEGAN ARNEY GDP grew 1.2 percent in 1998 Cuba's economy minister Jose Luis Doug Cooper in Sydney, Australia, contrib­ Rodriguez announced to the National As- uted to this column.

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2 The Militant January 18, 1999 Clinton plans $110 billion increase in military spending BY MAURICE WILLIAMS to try to make it look like he's a pro-defense In his weekly radio address January 2, president. It's an outrage." U.S. president William Clinton proposed the James Webb, who was secretary of the largest increase in military spending in 15 Navy in the Reagan administration, called years. In the budget he plans to submit to Clinton's spending hike "a small Band-Aid Congress in February, Clinton will propose on a military system that has been to hike the Defense Department's $258 bil­ hemorrhaging for years," in a column pub­ lion budget to almost $269 billion for 1999, lished in the Wall Street Journal January 5. with a $110 billion increase over the next White House officials retorted by pointing six ye(lfs. The additional funds will pay for to the Clinton administration's record of new weaponry, including F-22 warplanes, using U.S. military force around the world, U.S. president William Clinton has proposed a $110 over the next six new warships, and Comanche attack including operations in Yugoslavia and the years to Washington's military budget, meaning more warships, war planes, and missiles helicopters. recent "Operation Desert Fox" that rained to carry out the interests of U.S. bosses worldwide. Above, U.S. marines prepare to On December 7 Secretary of Defense hundreds of missiles and bombs on the Iraqi board Sea Knight helicopters during 1990--91 slaughter of Iraqi people. William Cohen, Gen. Henry Shelton, people. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and That onslaught in the Arab-Persian Gulf gigantic labor battles that built the CIO. It immediate and large-scale protest through the heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and cost more than $400 million in cruise mis­ ended with the demobilization of millions the United States. The U.S. government's Marine Corps met with Clinton to discuss a siles. Clinton and his top officials have made of U.S. troops following Washington's de­ massive increase in military spending began $148 billion increase over next six years. a habit of referring to the United States as feat of Japan in 1945. late in the Carter administration and has Two weeks later Cohen announced a "the world's indispensable nation." Washington's second militarization drive continued since then. planned 4.4 percent pay hike across the The Clinton administration's war budget began in 194 7 with President Harry board for the 1.4 million U.S. military proposal is a continuation of the third Truman's executive order initiating the U.S. military expands across Europe personnel. militarization drive launched by Democrats anticommunist loyalty-oath program and the Washington's expansion of the NATO Coming close to the sum Pentagon tops in the White House since the late 1930s. witch-hunt. That campaign lasted through military alliance into Eastern Europe, its had requested only brought Clinton more The first began with President Franklin the Korean War and ended with military operations in the Caspian Sea re­ denunciations from the right wing, however. Roosevelt's "quarantine the aggressor" Washington's defeat in Vietnam. gion, and elsewhere around the planet high­ The Democratic president is "personally speech in 1937 as the U.S. rulers prepared The third militarization drive was lights the Clinton administration's deepen­ responsible for the defamation of our for entry into World War II. The bourgeois launched in the January 1980 State of the ing militarization drive. According to the defense system," exclaimed Republican Sen. class used their war preparations for this Union address of President James Carter, December 14 Washington Post, U.S. spe­ James Inhofe, a member of the committee slaughter to contain and push back working­ who announced the decision to reinstate cial operations forces have conducted mili­ on combat readiness. "The president's going class radicalization that flowed from the draft registration. Carter's speech triggered tary maneuvers and training exercises in at least 110 countries, including every coun­ try in Latin America. In a move to tighten its military noose 'Euro' is launched amid accelerating around the Russian workers state, Washington has launched a Joint Contact Team Program run by the U.S. European Command based in Stuttgart, Germany. imperialist rivalry in Europe, with U.S. Under this arrangement 1,400 U.S. military personnel have been brought into the region BY CARL-ERIK ISSACSSON The birth of the euro opens the possibil­ as a pretext for deeper austerity policies. to train ·1 00,000 soldiers. Another 1,400 STOCKHOLM, Sweden- The euro, the ity that central banks around the world will Mergers ofcompanies over the national bor­ military officers from countries in Eastern common currency of II. of the 15 member begin to shift their holdings of the main for­ ders are expected to lead to cutting tens of Europe have traveled to the United States states in the European Union, came into eign currencies -with the dollar, euro, and thousands of jobs. or to U.S. bases in Europe. being January 1. The exchange rates of the yen competing for their share. This can in­ Economic growth in Europe is also slow­ The U.S. military has set up operations participating countries' currencies were crease the volatility on the world financial ing down now, which will further acceler­ in 13 countries across Central and Eastern ·supposedly irrevocably fixed at the start of markets. ate competition and rivalry between the Europe, with plans to expand into the the new year. Japanese prime minister Keizo Obuchi imperialist powers in Europe. One sign of Caucasus region and the southern flank of In the weeks leading up to the launch of traveled to Europe in early January to seek the strain was the December 30 statement Russia. Bulgarian soldiers have participated the new currency, a common interest rate the backing of the governments of France, by Wim Duisenberg, president of the in more than 15 joint exercises with U.S. was set at 3.0 percent in the participating Germany, and Italy for the greater use of European Central Bank, that he may serve Gls. And in Lithuania, a team of U.S. mili­ countries. the yen as an international currency. Mean­ his entire eight-year term. The French tary officials went to inspect every active The common currency is intended to put while, the big Japanese life insurers are government had agreed to the appointment air base and naval facility, companies, and European capitalists in a stronger position moving to shift their foreign investments, of Duisenberg, who is Dutch, only after platoons, to assess that country's military to compete with their rivals in the United 70 percent of which are now in dollars, to Duisenberg implied that he would step down capabilities. Last July, Washington orga­ States. The "euro zone" covers an area with an even split between the dollar and the euro. after four years in favor of Bank of France nized a joint military exercise involving a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) close to The euro has come into being at a time governor Jean-Claude Trichet. U.S., Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian that of the United States, with a population when the strengthening ofU.S. imperialism, Of the members of the European Union, troops. of290 million. The U.S. dollar has been the relative to its competitors, since the early the Greek government didn't meet the Washington's military moves have gone world's dominant currency since World War 1980s has peaked. The spreading deflation­ criteria for participating in the euro. The hand-in-hand with attacks on working I, when it replaced the British pound sterling. ary crisis of the capitalist world economy governments of the United Kingdom, people in the United states, including the The dollar today accounts for 60 percent of has increased conflicts between Washing­ Denmark, and Sweden chose not to be part deportation of almost 300,000 undocu­ global foreign currency reserves, almost four ton, London, Paris, Bonn, and Tokyo. of the euro at a time when Europe appeared mented immigrants in the two years since times as much as the European currencies The European rulers aren't faring so well weak relative to the Washington, and the Clinton signed into law the Illegal combined. either at this moment. Labor unit costs in euro looked "too shaky," as the Swedish Immigration and Reform Responsibility Europe are higher than in prime minister put it. Act. the rest of the capitalist Now a debate has opened in ruling-class The Immigration and Naturalization world, with the bosses so circles in these countries over whether to Service is now the largest federal law en­ far unable to force the apply for membership sooner rather than forcement agency with a budget of nearly kind of "labor flex­ later. $1 billion and 15,000 armed cops. lmper:ialism•s Mar:ch ibility" -that is take­ towal"d Fascism and war: backs - on workers that have been carried out in iijii.jjiijjill Jack Barnes the United States. The "There will be .new Hitlers, new pressure to do this, in the U.S. jets fire at Iraqi planes ~~~~"'lini~. That is. inevitable. What is name of lowering unem­ .. 1)~>1; it•evi:~~'l¢ is that they W'ill triumph. ployment and keeping the Continued from frontpage "Our resistance will continue against any ··~~~~~~ W(lrKinR··tlass v'atHtu~urdb:~~ euro strong, will grow. and several Arab regimes have called for penetration," declared Iraqi vice president Unemployment rates lifting or easing the sanctions. A UN report Taha Yassin Ramadan December 29, the day for the still average about 11 per­ issued last April stated that nearly 100,000 after U.S. warplanes destroyed an anti-air­ cent in the euro zone more Iraqis die each year in hospitals than craft battery in northern Iraq, killing four countries, reaching nearly died before the sanctions were imposed. "It's Iraqi soldiers and injuring at least seven oth­ 20 percent in Spain, de- not surprising" that many people are "in­ ers, according to Baghdad.The Iraqi govern­ Europe and America spite an upturn in the busi­ creasingly cynical about American claims ment said it launched surface to air missiles Two Speeches on Imperialism ness cycle in most coun­ that the United States has no desire to hurt after the U.S. planes attacked first. Leon Trotsky tries in Europe. This un­ ordinary Iraqis," opined an article in the On December 30 U.S. fighter jets again January 3 New York Times. fired missiles into Iraqi territory, claiming In two speeches in the mid-1920s, Russian Bolshevik employment is causing a social crises in Europe Baghdad is pressing to capitalize on Baghdad had fired at a formation of24 war­ leader Leon Trotsky explains why the emergence of the Washington's political weaknesses by re­ planes, including British Tornado bombers United States as the dominant imperialist power is the with no end in sight. Contrary to the mantra peatedly asserting the sovereign right to fly and U.S. F-16s. That assault killed a peas­ decisive factor in world politics. He describes the its planes in the "no-fly zones" imposed on ant and wounded two others. sharpening conflicts betweenWashington and its European that the euro will resolve the unemployment crises, its territory. Nearly every day since Decem­ Ramadan said the U.S. and British air rivals and highlights the revolutionary prospects for the ber 23 Iraqi aircraft have flown into the pro­ patrols are spying operations and part of workers. of the world. $6.00 the launch of the common currency will tend to in­ hibited areas. The Iraqi military has report­ imperialist aggression against Iraq, a point Available from bookstores, including those listed on page 12, crease joblessness, as gov­ edly moved fighter jets and helicopters into Iraqi officials repeatedly made about the UN or write Pathfinder. 41 0 West St., New York, NY I 00 14. ernments use defending the northern and southern zones and nearly "we~pons inspectors" who provoked the Tel: (212) 741-0690. Fax: (212) 727-0 ISO. their national currency's doubled the number of surface-to-air mis­ recent round ofconfrontations. U.S. officials exchange rate to the euro sile batteries there. Continued on Page 10 . January 18, 1999 The Militant 3 Ventura plays up Stop the execution ofGary Graham! 'tough' image as he attacks social benefits BY DOUG JENNESS sometimes conflicting views, as he did dur­ ST. PAUL, Minnesota- Minnesota's ing the campaign, aimed at appealing to a new governor, Jesse Ventura, closed his in­ broad range of people. He pointed to the augural address here on January 4 with "missing in action" bracelet he wears, and "hooyah," the greeting ofthe Navy SEALs. then said his first political demonstration His 10-minute speech was peppered with was a protest against reinstating the draft, references to his toughening in the Navy's because student deferrals were a way for special elite unit, and he read a message from the wealthy to stay out of war. He described his former instructor. Eight of his SEAL going with his wife to a rally supporting the buddies were on hand for the swearing in, Equal Rights Amendment for women. including three who stood .behind him in dress blues and saluted him at the conclu­ Opposes social benefits sion of the ceremonies. At the same time Ventura has been culti­ The SEALs' presence underscored the vating his tough-guy image, he has also been "tough guy" image Ventura has been pro­ pressing the theme that people should cope jecting during his election campaign and with economic and social difficulties as in­ since his election in November. dividuals or families and not look to the Militant/Lea Sherman A former wrestler who likes to be called government to organize financing for edu­ BY LEA SHERMAN November 18 the Texas Court of Crimi­ "the Body" and a member of the Navy cation, medical assistance, child care, and 'HOUSTON- Chanting, "Free Gary nal Appeals in Austin rejected Graham's SEALs for four years, Ventura presents him­ other social benefits. Graham," family and supporters of Gra­ appeal for a new trial. Immediately the self as physically strong, even violent - a In a radio call-in show on Minnesota Pub­ ham marched from Market Square Park Harris County District Attorney's office, Bonapartist figure who can stand above the lic Radio the day after he assumed office, to the Harris County Courthouse here which has sent the highest number of partisan conflicts of the Democrats andRe­ the new governor contended that education, January 2. The 35 protesters gathered to people to death row in the United States, publicans. child care, relief for the homeless, and so demand a stay of execution and a new requested an execution date and two days In the national spotlight since becoming on are not rights. trial for Graham, who is scheduled to be later a state district judge said that Gra­ the first Reform Party candidate to be elected The only social right is to go out there executed January 11. ham should die January 11. for statewide office anywhere in the coun­ and compete, he said. When asked about Graham, 3 5, was just 17 when he was Graham, who changed his name to try, many of the newspaper and TV inter­ the state-subsidized MinnesotaCare health prosecuted for capital murder in Harris Shaka Sankofa in 1995, and his support­ views with him have put a spotlight on his insurance program, Ventura said, "Competi­ County, Houston, in 1981. Graham, who ers have declared his innocence and experience in the Navy. A front-page article, tion pushes prices down - not socializing is Black, was convicted and sent to death fought for a new trial for many years. The "SEALing His Fate," in the January 3 issue and monopolizing." When asked what he row at Huntsville prison on the basis of rapid scheduling of the execution day of the St. Paul Pioneer Press quoted exten­ would do about homelessness, he replied, only one witness who claims to have seen surprised many who thought Graham had sively from a chapter by Ventura in a book "We have charities, don't we?" And then him at the site of the shooting in the dimly gotten a permanent stay of execution in of reminiscences, The Teams: An Oral His­ added, "There are some people that choose lit parking lot of a grocery store. Six eye­ 1993. There is an another appeal pend­ tory ofthe US. Navy SEALs. to be homeless." witnesses said he was not the gunman and ing in the federal court. One of the items, not only revealing about During a meeting last month at North five other people placed him far from the Ventura but about the arrogance and brutal­ Hennepin Community College students scene. There is no physical evidence link­ Lea Sherman is a member of the Inter­ ity of the U.S. militar)r forces in other coun­ asked him to explain his views on public ing him to the murder. Despite this, on national Association ofMachinists. tries, relates to Ventura's experience in the financing for college education. According Philippines. He is quoted as saying that just to the Pioneer Press, Ventura argued, "I outside the Subic Bay Naval base "was a don't want government raising our children. mile of road that held something like 350 I want parents raising our children." If they "The People's Celebration." Proposals for tighter ballot restrictions bars and 10,000 girls .... We went out bar­ don't have enough money, he said, "the gov­ When he met with the Minnesota AFL­ Important sectors of the ruling class in hopping every night." ernment cannot be the answer." Asked about CIO Executive Committee, Ventura sharply Minnesota are concerned about the strains The same Pioneer Press article quoted students who are single mothers, he replied, rebuked the 40 officials present for not sup­ on the two-party setup that the Ventura vic­ Ventura bragging, days before his inaugu­ "Why is she a single mother?" porting the Reform Party ticket. The labor tory signifY and are urging more roadblocks ration, about his involvement, together with "Because the guy ain't around," a woman officialdom, he said, needs "to start looKing to the development of a multiparty situation. other U.S. soldiers, in the degrading treat­ called out. beyond the Democratic Party, looking for a For example, a November 22 editorial in the ment of Filipina women who were prosti­ "Then let's get the guy," Ventura said. bigger vision than just what the Democratic Minneapolis Star Tribune, "Too Many Par­ tutes. As in all other interviews about his "What if he is in prison?" the woman re­ Party has been." He hit a sore point when ties? Raise "major party' threshold," calls experience in the Navy, Ventura pointedly plied. he stressed that the labor officials had backed on the state legislature to raise the 5 percent said he would uphold the SEALs' code of There are exceptions to every rule, a loser. He also commented that he was "not vote threshold for major party status to 10 silence about their military missions. Ventura said, but he questioned why a a big supporter of the minimum wage." percent or higher ofthe vote in the previous Even before Ventura was sworn in as gov­ woman would get involved with a man who Bill Peterson, the AFL-CIO secretary election. ernor and the Minnesota National Guard's would go to prison. treasurer said that even before Ventura's ver­ "Major party" status allows candidates to commander in chief, the Guard began to use In the weeks following his election and bal spanking, some members of the execu­ receive public campaign funds and to be Ventura's military experience in its recruit­ leading up to his inauguration, the gover­ tive council had begun pursuing other po­ booked in many more media debates. The ing efforts. In a large mailing last month, nor-elect has cultivated the populist image litical avenues. 'It's evident that the way editorial complains that not only has the brochures featuring a snapshot of the gov­ of someone who represents all Minnesotans, we're going we haven't been very success­ Reform Party crossed this thieshold, but in ernor-elect were sent to high school juniors. regardless of political affiliation and views. ful,' he said." According to the December the 1998 election the Taxpayers Party also Initial reports from Guard officials indicate He spoke to meetings of farmers, veterans, 16 Union Advocate, AFL-CIO President cleared this hurdle. that recruitment was running more than high school and college students, state gov­ Bernard Brommer said the leadership of the Meanwhile, several Republican politi­ twice the usual rate. ernment employees, and union officials. His state labor organization is "ready to roll up cians have announced that they are leaving In an hour-long television interview with inaugural party January 16 will feature rock our slee'ves" to help Ventura be a successful the GOP and will seek the Reform Party C-Span, Ventura presented a wide range of singer Jonny Lang and has been dubbed governor. nomination in the next elections. -YOUNG SOCIALISTS AROUND THE WORLD------­ Ice/and: YS opposes cop taping ofIraq bombing protest This column is written and edited by Icelandic government stop supporting at- dragged towards the sidewalk. cameras were installed in downtown the Young Socialists, an international or­ . tacks on Iraq. The main radio station, Chan­ Olof Andra Proppe, a YS memberwho Reykjavik. The newspaper Morgunbladid of ganization of young workers, students, nel 1, read the press release announcing the was chairing the protest, pointed out that it December 24 quoted deputy police chief and other youth fighting for socialism. demonstration a couple of hours before it was the cops who were taking the pictures. Thorisson saying the police had to be "fully For more information write to: Young So­ took place. When people gathered in front On December 23, a delegation from the prepared in case of threatening incidents cialists, 3284 23rd St., San Francisco, CA, of the embassy, about 20 cops were there Young Socialists delivered a letter at the against the embassy," but the protest "turned 94110. Tel: (415) 824-1429. with two vans. Two men in civilian clothes Reykjavik City Police Station demanding out to be quite peaceful and therefore there Compuserve:[email protected] began taking photos, and one was videotap­ that the videotapes of the demonstration five will be no further research of films or other ing the protest. When asked to identity them­ days earlier be delivered to them to be de­ material." In theDagurnewspaperthe same BY KARl GYLFASON selves they refused. One finally answered stroyed. YS spokesman Haraldsson was day, Thorisson said the state prosecutor or REYKJAVIK, Iceland - More than 100 they were cops. quoted on Radio and TV news saying the ministry of justice must decide whether the people gathered outside the U.S. embassy Speakers at the rally included Sigurdur police had no reason to film the protest ex­ tapes will be destroyed. here December 18, protesting the military Haraldsson, a shipyard worker and YS mem­ cept to register who was there, and there­ The Icelandic government is trying to attacks launched by Washington and Lon- ber who is a on the national board of the fore it was a violation of the right to express curtail democratic rights at the same time it don against Iraq. ' Campaign Against Military Bases, as well political views. attacks the right to free education and health The action was called by the Young So­ as representatives of the Socialist Organi­ Deputy police chief Geir Jon Thorisson care, drives down the living standards in cialists ·and supported by other organiza­ zation, Humanist Party, and the Campaign said to the TV Channel 2 reporter it is stan­ Iceland, and takes imperialistic measures to tions, including the Campaign Against Mili­ Against Military Bases. The Young Social­ dard practice to film public events. Over the safegard the interests of the Icelandic rul­ tary Bases, Socialist Organization, and ists had a book table where five issues of last two years the police force in Iceland has ing class, such as fishing more out of the Women's Council for Culture and Peace. the Militant and a copy of The Communist been reorganizing under June 1996 legisla­ neighboring countries' fish stocks and sup­ Flyers, e-mails, and press releases were sent Manifesto were sold. tion on the "duties and practice" that gives porting the criminal attack on Iraq. The out to build the demonstration. The protest­ During the demonstration police pushed them more space to operate. One measure Young Socialists in Iceland will keep fight­ ers demanded the bombings be stopped, people aside to let a car coming up the street the police and some politicians have been iiJ.g this attack on democratic rights and at Iraq's sovereignty be respected, and the go through. One man who did not under­ advocating is placing surveillance cameras the same time draw in other fighters and "weapons inspectors" get out, as well as the stand quickly enough was grabbed and in public places. A few months ago, such organizations that are willing to do the same. 4 The Militant January 18, 1999 Pathfinder printshop tour highlights advances, need to complete capital fund BY NAOMI CRAINE NEW YORK- Participants in the January 1- Left: Ryan Lewis, a member of the Young So­ 3 meeting of the Socialist Workers Party Na­ cialists who heads up crews on the printshop's tional Committee here got a first-hand look at web press, describes cross-training of press the revolution under way in the Pathfinder Press operators. The chart behind him shows steps printshop. The Saturday evening session of the toward qualifying operators to run all three meeting was a tour organized by the shop staff. shop presses-two sheet-fed presses used to Workers in the shop demonstrated how the produce Pathfm"-er books, and the web press printshop is using computer-to-plate technol­ the Militant is printed on - as well as per­ ogy to cut labor time, in the process transform­ form the digital preparations and platemaking ing their methods of working together to pro­ on the new Galileo computer-to-plate system. duce the books and pamphlets vital to the po­ The aim is to reduce the shop staff to 32, while litical work of the communist movement and improving production rates and quality. other vanguard workers and farmers. The next day the National Committee members, trade Below: Lisa Rottach (at right) demonstrates unionists, SWP branch organizers, and Young Galileo platesetter, which eliminates time-con­ Socialists leaders attending the meeting dis­ suming, labor-intensive prepress work. Plates cussed the.next steps in leading this transfor­ for reprinting the text of the Pathfmder book mation. John Coltrane and the Jazz Revolution ofthe At the top of the priorities is raising the funds 1960s are coming otT the platesetter here. necessary to fmish paying for the newly installed Agfa Galileo computer-to-plate system and other printshop needs. Nearly $600,000 has been raised since July as part of this capital fund; another $240,000 is needed over the next two months. The most striking aspect of the tour was not unionists, youth, and the oppressed re­ Trowe said. "We need the machinery, but the increasing confidence of sist and seek to understand what they to raise $45,000 to fm­ the socialist cadre who work in the shop. These are involved in, the openness to the ish paying for the workers are taking more control and responsi­ revolutionary ideas contained in Path­ Galileo, and then an­ bility for efficient production and higher qual­ finder books increases. other $200,000 over ity - from the bindery where the books are fin­ Following the tour of the printshop, the next two months." ished; to the press operators who are expand­ participants in the National Committee Trowe explained, ing cross-training to be able to run all three meeting took part in a dinner and party "We have a Capital presses and produce the plates for them; to the celebrating 40 years of the Cuban revo­ Fund Committee, but commercial sales effort that financially sustains lution and the advances in Pathfinder there are no capital­ the shop, which an expanding cross-section of press and its printshop. The event was ists on it. Its seven the staff is taking responsibility for (see accom­ sponsored by the New York and Newark members are all work­ panying photos). branches ofthe Socialist Workers Party, ers who collaborate A little more than a month after the Galileo and the meal was prepared and served with socialists was delivered, and just a few days after Agfa by support~rs of the party in the area. throughout the U.S. technicians had it fully installed, shop staffmem­ Jack Willey, a union meatpacker from and in other countries bers have been able to get the platesetter up Chicago and a member of the Capital to have discussions and running and make some big steps forward Fund Committee that is organizing the with supporters on in productivity. In the first three days of full fund-raising to purchase the Galileo, the political openings production on the machine- which takes books spoke briefly about the importance of and the need to keep Militant photos by Hilda Cuzco and other printing projects on computer files the books Pathfinder keeps in print for Pathfinder books in and produces press-ready plates within min­ workers involved in struggles such as print. Out ofthis political process, those who eral contributions that came in during the utes - printshop workers were producing 90 the recent 98-day strike at Freeman can make contributions of$1 ,000 or more do recent U.S. bombing oflraq were accompa­ percent of their plates on the Galileo. This in­ United Coal in central Illinois. so. It's led by workers who, when they get a nied by notes from the contributors ex­ cluded the first pamphlet produced by Pathfinder Maggie Trowe, another member ofthe windfall, are enthusiastic about the oppor­ pressing their satisfaction at being able to volunteers as a digitized CD-ROM and printed Capital Fund Committee, reported on the tunity to contribute to the fund. Contribu­ strike a blow against the imperialist attack using the Galileo -Panama: The Truth About fund's progress. "The $550,000 fund, tors give to the capital fund for the same by supporting the effort to get out Path­ the U.S. Invasion. launched in October," Trowe said, reason volunteers in the digitizing campaign finder books. "The response we have got­ To give an idea ofthe time savings, shop staff "comes on top of the fund launched in put in many hours of work scanning, proof­ ten so far gives us confidence that we can members pointed out that the plates for the last July at the Active Workers Conference reading, and formatting each week to get complete Capital Fund in full and on time," issue of the Militant were coining out of the in Pittsburgh. The frrst fund, which made the books ready for press." Trowe said. "That is really something to Galileo less than an hour after the editors turned possible the purchase of the precursor Trowe explained that since October there celebrate." over a print-ready file to the shop. Until fairly to the Galileo _:___a computer-to-film have been more than 25 meetings with sup­ To find out how you can make a capital recently, stripping and plating theMilitanttQok imagesetter- and major repairs of the porters in 7 countries, resulting in contri­ contribution, write to the Capital Fund Com­ the better part of two days. Pathfinder Building, was really not a sepa­ butions ranging from $1,000 to $50,000. Sev- mittee, 410 West St., New York, NY 10014. One of the workers on night shift, Lisa rate fund. It got us on the track to do Rottach, was able to set up the machine to pro­ what the next fund posed -to purchase duce 20 plates, press a button, and move on to the Galileo and meet other capital needs other tasks in the bindery while the Galileo pro­ of the shop. duced plates. Burning those plates would have "If we look at it this way, we have an taken her a couple hours with the shop's re­ $840,000 .fund, and we have already · cently installed computer-to-:fi/m technology raised $592,000 from well over 100 sup­ used from August 1998 until last week, and porters. That is quite an accomplish­ roughly a full shift under the previous hand­ ment, and we can celebrate it tonight," stripping methods. This makes it possible to release more socialist workers to carry out political work in the trade unions and in party branches across the country. Until six months ago, the shop staff size was 4 7. The steps taken so far have allowed this to be reduced first to 36 in July. With further reductions beginning this month, the staff size will be 3 2 by the time the SWP convention opens in San Francisco at the be­ ginning ofApril. The success in getting the Galileo into the shop and up and running is the result of a couple of other advances: the progress made by more than 100 vollll}teers around the world who are convert­ Militant photos by Hilda Cuzco ing all of Pathfinder's books into Top right: Mary· ·Nell Bockman describes how workers in the fully digital files on CD-ROM, and bindery and press departments have taken initiative in commer­ the big response by supporters of cial sales campaign to help fmance production of revolutionary Pathfinder to make contributions literature. Bottom: Doug Nelson and Abby Tilsner explain how to a capital fund to pay for the new the bindery is the heart of the shop, where volunteers first learn equipment. the habits of discipline, working collectively, and taking more Developments in politics in the control over production and quality. Above:Mi/itantstatJmem­ United States and around the ber Megan Arney shows digital photo archive where all new pho­ world over the past couple of tos coming in and all those scanned for Pathfinder books are now years form the basis of the ener­ stored. As part of tour, members of the Pathfmder staffshowed getic response. Working-class re­ how they are getting digital books prepared by volunteers for sistance is deepening. And as reprinting at higher standards than had been possible. January 18, 1999 The Militant 5 Catfish workers fight for dignity BY SUSAN LAMONT plies, such as gloves, aprons, and hairnets. AND RONALD MARTIN If you get a hole in your gloves, you have to BELZONI, Mississippi- Since mid-No­ work with ice-cold water on your hands, vember, nearly 70 workers at the Freshwater unless you can replace the gloves yourself. Farms catfish processing plant here have Workers also face abusive and unfair treat­ E f\athef\ been waging a determined struggle for work­ ment by supervisors. ers' rights and dignity on the job. All are The area outside the plant that was desig­ qed~' Black; most are women. nated for smoking was filthy and crawling They began their action the morning of with maggots. Workers start at $5.20 an hour, November 16 by standing outside the plant five cents above minimum wage. There is a to protest the company's refusal to treat their minimal "incentive" plan: workers who have demands seriously, said Joann Hogan. Al­ been at Freshwater for 15 years make as little though no one had punched in, the·com­ as $6.45 an hour. There are no medical ben­ pany responded by firing them that morn­ efits. There are no white workers on the pro­ Ill ing. Hogan, 36, who has worked at Fresh­ duction line. The company fired a woman "" .. water Farms for seven years, is one of the worker who was white, after they found out workers' spokespersons. She actually went she was married to a Black man, Hogan said. into work November 16, but was also fired There was a one-day work stoppage in when she went out to speak with protesters May over the same issues. Despite company at lunchtime. She and other workers are staff­ assurances that changes would be made, ing an informational picket line across the nothing happened. highway from the plant and recently ex­ The company has said that the 68 work­ plained the issues in their fight to a team of ers who protested are fired, claiming they Militant reporters visiting the Delta. violated the "no strike-no lockout" provi­ sions of the union contract. The workers, 'Stand and be brave' who have not yet received discharge papers, One of the their protest signs summarizes consider themselves locked-out. They have what the struggle is all about: "We'd rather been unable to collect unemployment, how­ stand out and be brave than to go in and be ever, or sign up for food stamps, and some slaves." have been effectively blacklisted from other A major concern is the company's refusal jobs in the area. Militant/Susan LaMont to allow adequate time for workers to use The company has called Humphreys Freshwater Farms catfish processing workers in Belzoni, Mississippi, picket outside the the bathroom. Their workstations are be­ County sheriff John Allen Jones on picket­ plant. They are struggling for better working conditions, safety, and better wages. tween 400 and 500 feet from the restrooms. ers several times. Jones is being investigated Only se_ven minutes are allowed for bath­ by the U.S. Justice Department over the death in the plant when the protest began. and few, if any catfish farmers. The only Af­ room breaks, three times a day. "By the time and mistreatment ofBlack jail inmates. They rican-American catfish processor was driven you get your gear off and get to the wash have also had dead deer and a deer head 'The new plantation' out of business several years ago." room, the seven minutes is practically thrown by their protest area. The workers who walked out have con­ Mississippi is the leading producer of gone," Hogan said. "Then you have to get The workers are calling for a boycott of tacted area ministers and the Mississippi farm-raised catfish in the United States, a sanitized and redressed up before you can Freshwater Farms products, which are sold Delta chapter of Southern Christian Leader­ $45 million industry for the state. The first go back to your work station." If they take to restaurants and supermarkets. They have ship Conference for support. They have catfish workers to win union recognition longer than seven minutes, workers must begun informational leafleting at area super­ formed a new organization, the Catfish Work­ were at Delta Pride's plants in Indianola, clock out or they will be written up. markets. The plant is organized by United ers ofAmerica. An informational leaflet they about 25 miles from Belzoni. They began There is no set shift length, either. The Food and Commercial Workers Locall529. put out says, in part, "The catfish industry, pressing for union recognition in 1986 and shift starts at 8:00a.m. and workers must Hogan was one of the shop stewards; an­ the new plantation in America, makes mil­ finally won in 1990, Workers at Delta Pride stay until the work is finished, whether it's other shop steward was also among those lions ofdollars of profit off the labor ofAfri­ are in the same UFCW local as Freshwater eight, nine, or ten hours a day - or longer. who joined the protest. can-American catfish workers who are paid Farms workers. . ''! Between lOO,OOOand 120,000poundsofcat­ Despite the fact that local union officials low wages and given little in benefits. Thes~ For more information about the Freshwa­ fish are processed each workday. The com­ are not backing their fight, the workers view workers are forced to work under deplorable ter workers' fight or to send a donation, con­ pany also wants workers to stand motion­ their struggle as benefiting the workers who and dehumanizing conditions where racism tact Catfish Workers Fund, c/o the Myers less - and silent - at their workstations, are still inside. "Ifwe can make things better, is rampant. In the Mississippi Delta, Foundation, P.O. Box29, Belzoni, MS 39038 not moving or talking to fellow workers. we'll make it better for them as well," Hogan America's poorest region, there are no Afri­ or call (601)247-2694or(601) 247-1471 ore­ They expect workers to buy their own sup- said. There were a total ofabout 240 workers can-American catfish processors, managers mail at www.commonground.com Co-op aids Black farmers in Mississippi's Delta BY SUSAN LAMONT ton 50 and 60 farmers have been discriminated against by AND RONALD MARTIN miles away, to the government. The amount of disaster re­ MILESTON, Mississippi- David other gins that liefa farmer gets is based on estimated yields. Howard, 40, is president ofthe Mileston Co­ weren't re- A yield is the production per acre. It is mea­ op, and an enthusiastic activist for the rights stricted to sured differently for each commodity. For of Black farmers. He and his cousin, R.C. stockholders," example, soybeans are meas1.1red in bushels Howard, recently welcomed Militant report­ David said. per acre; or if your cotton averages three ers at the co-op's new office, a few miles "Still, they bales per acre, your yield would be 1500. down the road from Tchula (see article on wouldn't gin The processor at the gin or mill certifies a facing page). your cotton un­ farmer's yield. Although David had planted, The Mileston Co-op, they explained, is til they had fin­ he was given "zero yield" and therefore no the oldest Black farm cooperative in the ished with their relief. No white farmers in the area were put United States. It was formed in 1942 and own members." in that category. chartered in 1944; the Howards' grandfa­ He once lost Both David and R.C. had mixed reactions ther was one of the founders. The purpose more than 50 to the proposed settlement to the Black farm­ of the cooperative· is to help small farmers bales of cotton ers' lawsuit against the United States De­ get a better deal on seed, chemicals, and because the gin partment of Agriculture (USDA). "Some it other products by buying in quantity. Dur­ he went to will do some good, others it won't," said ing the 1970s and '80s, the cooperative also wouldn't pro- R.C., 44, who farms full-time. "$50,000 isn't helped members participate in a government . cess it. (A bale much money compared to what some farm­ program to supply farmers with cattle. With weighs between ers have lost; others it will help." the price of cattle and hogs so low, most co­ 400 and 500 "Part of the settlement should be to do op members have since decided to stick with pounds.) something with the folks who have been cotton and soybeans, David explained. The Mileston Militant/Susan LaMont doing the discriminating," added David. Only Black-owned cotton gin Co-op now has R.C. (left) and David Howard, from the Mileston Cooperative near Tchula, "The farmers are the backbone of the For many years, the co-op also operated 15 members. Mississippi. David is the president of the co-op. country," R.C. stressed. "When it takes $350- the only Black-owned cotton gin in the They are trying $3 7 5 an acre to plant cotton, you need to be United States. It burned down in 1986. to help members with marketing and also look­ ference (SCLC) in the Delta. guaranteed at least $400 an acre in return, "There was no insurance and it would ing into programs that could help provide jobs David has two other jobs besides work­ not $280. A man in a suit and tie, who has have cost $1 million to rebuild," David said. in the area, such as canning vegetables. ing his 200-acre farm. He drives a school bus never been working out in the hot sun, sits "By that time, the machinery was also out­ David and R.C. Howard have been farming every day and also works full-time as a me­ in an office somewhere and sets these prices. moded. We had tried to keep it going by their whole lives, just like their fathers and chanic at an auto parts plant in Greenwood. He'll set 55-56 cents a pound for cotton, buying used equipment, but it was going grandfather before them. Like many farmers in "About half the cooperative members work when we need 80-85 cents a pound just to downhill. the Delta, they plant cotton and soybeans. at outside jobs," David said. survive." Farmers also have to pay exorbi­ "Other farmers used to use the gin too," The two grew up with the civil rights move­ tant amounts for pesticides to kill worms and he continued. When it burned down, it was ment in the 1960s. Drought in 1998 other pests that damage crops and reduce difficult for Black cotton farmers to get their "Our fathers used to put up civil rights The last year has been hard for Delta farm­ yields, including $24 an acre to the USDA to cotton ginned nearby. To use the white­ workers at their farmhouses," David recalled. ers, as for many others around the country, spray for boll w~evil, an insect that destroys owned gins, you had to be a stockholder­ "And my grandfather, who had a couple of because of a serious drought. Many, includ­ cotton. a measure instituted to keep the Black farm­ small houses, let one be used for a school ing David Howard, put thousands of dollars The Mileston Co-op has three new, small ers out. they set up." The Howards have long worked into their farms and got little or nothing back. boildings, including a convenience store "So Black farmers had to take their cot- with the Southern Christian Leadership Con- Disaster relief is another way that Black they are hoping to build up. 6 The Militant January 18, 1999 Mississippi: Black farmers fight for change Eddie Carthan, former mayor ofTchula, describes struggle in Mississippi Delta

BY SUSAN LAMONT fought experience to bear in the Black AND RONALD MARTIN uU$TIC£ farmers' current struggle. In 1977, Carthan was elected mayor ofTchula, TCHULA, Mississippi - The ;"~!/ northeastern part ofthis state- some the first Black ever to be elected 7,000 square miles of flat, fertile farm mayor of a biracial town in the Delta. land formed by the Mississippi and L JL~A ~~h' frj[t;; I He was forced out of office in 1981, Yazoo Rivers' flood plain- is known just one month shy of completing his as the Delta. first term, after being convicted on The Delta's population is over­ trumped-up charges of assaulting a whelmingly Black. The area is known police officer. He was given a three­ for its poverty in the U.S. state that year prison sentence. After seven ranks last in per capita personal in­ months, the governor suspended the come. And it is known for the degree rest of his sentence. to which old attitudes and practices When Carthan took office, he re­ from the South's segregationist past called, Tchula was still segregated, still have a hold. But it is also home to with whites living on one side of the fighting Black farmers and workers railroad tracks, and Blacks - who who are determined to see some were 85 percent of the population­ changes made, including farmers who on the other. In the Black community, are part of the historic fight against roads were unpaved, there were no the discriminatory practices ofthe U.S. sidewalks or streetlights, 80 percent Department ofAgriculture (USDA). of the houses had no indoor plumb­ Eddie Carthan, 49, runs an old2fash­ ing, other social services were poor ioned hardware store in this small or missing entirely. There were no Delta town. A longtime civil rights Blacks heading up any city depart­ leader in the area, he is also president ment, and many Blacks "did not ofthe Mississippi Family Farmers and know where the City Hall was," an activist in a class-action suit by Carthan recalled. Black farmers against the USDA. Militant photos: top, Linda Joyce; right, Susan LaMont Carthan sought to bring in im­ After his father's death in 1983, Above, 200 people at the NAACP convention in Atlanta protest proved housing, medical care, as Carthan began farming his family's racist discrimination against Black farmers July 15. Right, well as water and sewage programs land, raising cotton, soybeans, and Eddie Carthan, president of Mississippi Family Farmers, in to the Black community. In an effort wheat on 600 acres near Tchula. He front of his hardware store in Tchula, December 1998. to punish him and put the Black was pushed out of farming in 1997 by· community back in its place, the lo­ the cost-price squeeze that all small cal white business and landowning farmers face, exacerbated by the Some Black farmers in Mississippi are liv­ establishment began "investigat­ government's discriminatory lending poli­ ing on land that has been in their family for ing" him from the moment he took cies toward farmers who are Black. Now he generations, since after the Civil War. "A lot office. "It was a legal lynching and . rents out his land to other farmers. ofBlack farmers have lost their land through a political lynching," Carthan said. "The Mississippi Family Farmers, which trickery and thievery," Carthan said. "Those Before he was even released from is a statewide organization formed in 1985, who remain have caught hell, trying to sur­ prison on the assault charges, predates the current USDA suit," Carthan vive. Now the government has admitted it Carthan was again framed up-this explained in a recent interview with these has discriminated against Blacks, but they're time on charges that he had mur­ Militant correspondents held in his busy refusing to adequately pay for their illegal, dered a city alderman a year earlier, hardware store. "So many Black farmers had discriminatory practices." The proposed in 1980. He was finally acquitted of problems with government and local lend­ settlement does not include punitive dam­ the murder charge, after his case ing institutions. The white plantation own­ ages for pain and suffering over the years, became known nationally and inter- ers, banks, and FmHA [Farmers Home Ad­ repayment for loss of property, and other the crop year was over by the time he dis­ nationally, including through the pages of ministration] were trying to get rid of Black losses suffered by Black farmers, he noted. covered it. "They try to break your spirit by the Militant, which campaigned for his re­ farmers, so we came together to save Black Part of the proposed settlement would going after you in all kinds ofways," Carthan lease. farmers and to encourage young people and include a federally appointed monitor to said. He recalled one county USDA super­ While in jail facing the murder charges, women to get into the business." The FmHA, make sure discriminatory practices didn't visor who essentially stole money from Black he was framed up again, this time on charges now part of the USDA's Farm Service continue at the USDA. Carthan expressed farmers, taking advantage of the fact that of giving false information to a local bank. Agency, was set up in the 1930s under mass concern that the lawsuit settlement doesn't some of them could not read. After it was Sentenced in 1982 to three years in federal pressure, to provide loans to working farm­ adequately address the structural problems discovered, "He was not fired," Carthan said. prison, he was released by judge's order af­ ers on better terms than the commercial with the USDA that would remain ifthe case "just moved to another office." ter eight months. banks. is settled, to really end the discriminatory In the Delta, much of the land is owned A victim offrame-up himself, Carthan has "In the 1980s and early '90s, we held meet- · practices. by white plantation owners. "These are white lent his support to other fighters under at­ ings and forums and workshops, trying to "Every county has a supervisor hired by farmers who own large tracts of land, with tack. He was a prominent supporter ofMark help farmers get the help they needed from the federal government, who then sets up a laborers living and working on his land. He Curtis, the union activist and Socialist Work­ the government. When no help was forth­ local board to oversee farm loans and other. owns the land and the houses. It's like agri­ ers Party member from Des Moines, Iowa, coming, we tried to file an antidiscrimination farm programs," Carthan explained. "Some business. There aren't many small farmers who was framed up on rape and burglary suit ourselves in the early '90s against the of these boards are elected, others ap­ who are white," he said. To get around gov­ charges and imprisoned from 1988 to 1996. USDA. But we had trouble getting lawyers pointed." The virtually all-white boards in ernment ceilings on subsidies a farmer can Carthan lent his support to the international and the money to file," Carthan noted. Fi­ Mississippi and elsewhere in the South are get, some of these plantation owners divide defense campaign that finally won Curtis' nally, they decided to join with other Black the ones who have been denying or delay­ up their land, putting sections of it in their release. farmers from Alabama, North Carolina, Geor­ ing loans and refusing to treat Black farm­ workers' names -and then collect the ad­ Susan LaMont is a member of United Steel­ gia, and other states in the current lawsuit, ers' complaints seriously for decades. "It ditional subsidies themselves. workers ofAmerica Local 2122 in Fairfield, which includes some 125 farmers from Mis- would be hard for a Black to even be al­ Alabama. Ronald Martin is a member of sissippi. lowed to serve on one," Carthan said. Tchula's first Black mayor the International Brotherhood of Boiler­ Carthan brings several decades of hard- makers Local 108 in Birmingham. Farmers discuss proposed settlement 'A very corrupt system' Black farmers here are discussing the re­ After Carthan started farming in 1983, it cent settlement proposal from the U.S. De­ took him three years to get a government partment of Justice, which represents the loan, after being turned down several times USDA in the federal court suit. In late No­ each year he tried. Carthan lost some of his vember, hundreds of Black farmers attended farm equipment during that time, along with three meetings in Selma, Alabama; Pine Bluff, $40,000 he had raised as a mortgage. Arkansas; and Durham, North Carolina, to "It is a very corrupt system," Carthan said. hear the Justice Department's proposed "You go through all this trouble, and if you settlement of their $2.5 billion class-action do finally get a loan, it's too late. After all, antidiscrimination suit, filed in 1997. Under farming is a timing operation. terms of the proposal, farmers would be di­ "If you did get to plant [cotton], come vided into two classes. Class A, which would harvest time, the cotton gin in this area are include between 2,000 and 4,000 farmers, all owned by white cooperatives, and they would be required to provide relatively little wouldn't gin our cotton," he added. "So we documentation to prove discrimination. had to take it 30 or40 miles away, where they They would receive $50,000 each, and their charged more. The gins make money from loan debts to the government would be writ­ the oil and seed they remove from the cot­ ten off. They would also get tax reliefon the ton, but still they would charge the Black $50,000 and the debt relief. farmers." The system is rigged in other ways, •no.4 Other farmers- a much smaller number, he noted. Any USDA program to supple­ The Fight for aWorkers and according to the farmers' lawyers -would ment farmers' income is based on yield, Farmers Government in the be in class B. If they have extensive docu­ which the gin certifies to the government. United States by jack Barnes mentation, they could ask fur an arbitration White farmers are always certified with high <• The Crisis FacingWorking hearing, where they could get a much larger yields, the Black fanners with low ones. "The Farmers by Doug Jenness+ settlement- or a much smaller one, or none same official who works for the local USDA Land Reform and Farm Coop­ at all. A farmer who was not awarded just board has a relative who works in the local eratives in Cuba, two compensation by such a hearing would not bank," Carthan described. ''These are the speeches by Fidel Castro be able to appeal the decision, same people who are trying to getyour land, $9.00 "This settlement will solve some prob­ through delaying your loans, selling you lems," Carthan said. "but it's not near jus­ bad seed, and in other ways." Carthan's fa­ tice or fair, nowhere close." ther was sold bad cotton seed one year, but

January 18, 1999 The Militant 7 Celebrating 40 years of workers and farmers in power in Cuba 'The democratic victory of the people must be complete'

At 2:00a.m. on Jan. 1, 1959, Fulgencio the General Command Batista, the U.S.-backed dictator of Cuba, The . dictatorship has fled the country in face of the advancing crumbled as a result of the forces of the Rebel Army. Speaking over crushing defeats dealt it in the Radio Rebelde from the outskirts ofthe east­ last few weeks, but this doesn't em city of Santiago de Cuba, Rebel com­ mean that the Revolution has mander-in-chief Fidel Castro denounced already triumphed. Batista's attempt to tum power over to a Military operations are to military junta, and called for a nationwide continue without general strike. Cuban workers responded to any change as long this revolutionary appeal with a massive as no direct order is uprising. By the time the main Rebel Army given by the General columns arrived in Havana January 8, th~ Command to act oth­ Above: Bohemia; Left: Institute of Cuban History revolution had triumphed, opening the door erwise. That order Above, workers crowd outside offices of Cu­ to Cuba's independence from U.S. imperial­ will be issued only ban dictator Fulgencio Batista's party in Ha­ ism and the road to the first socialist revolu­ after the military ele­ vana on Jan. I, 1959. Left, Fidel Castro speaks tion in the Americas. ments that have re­ on radio outside the eastern city of Santiago In celebration of the 40th anniversary of belled in the capital de Cuba, calling for general strike to counter this victory, the Militant will publish place themselves a military coup. speeches and other materials throughout the unconditionally at year documenting the revolutionary acts of the disposal of the the courage ofour fighters, as we have taken Cuba's workers and farmers in power. We revolutionary lead­ other cities. An attempt is being made to begin here with Castro's radio announce­ ership. Revolution, . forbid those who liberated our homeland to ment to the people of Cuba on Jan. 1, 1959. yes; military coup, enter Santiago de Cuba. This translation was published in the March no! The story of 1895 will not be repeated! 18, 1973, issue ofthe Cuban weeklyGranma A military coup This time, themambises will enter Santiago Weekly Review. Footnotes and minor cor­ behind the backs of de Cuba!4 rections to the translation are by the Mili­ the people and the Santiago de Cuba, you will be free be­ tant. Revolution, no! be­ cause you deserve it more than any other cause it would only city and because it is an insult to see the serve to prolong the defenders of the tyranny still walking your BY FIDEL CASTRO war. streets. Instructions to all Majors of the Rebel A military coup to Santiago de Cuba, we count on your sup­ Army and to the people. help Batista and the big criminals escape, Nobody should be confused or misled. port! Regardless of the news coming from the no! because it would only serve to prolong The watchword is to remain on the alert. The city is to be completely paralyzed as capital, our troops are not to cease fire, no the war. The people - and, most especially, the of 3:00 p.m. today. Everybody must stop matter what. Our force.s are to continue their A military coup in cahoots with Batista, workers ofthe entire republic - should keep working, in solidarity with the fighters who operations against the enemy on every no! because it would only serve to prolong in touch with Radio Rebelde and make im­ are to liberate the city. Only the power plant battlefront. A tru'ce will be accepted only in the war. mediate preparations in every workplace to should continue in operation, so the people the case of those garrisons that want to sur­ Robbing the people of their victory, no! declare a general strike as soon as the order may receive instructions over the radio. render. because it would only serVe to prolong the is given, if necessary, to thwart any attempt Santiago de Cuba, we repeat: you will be It appears that a coup d'etat has taken war until the people scored a total victory. at a counterrevolutionary coup) · free because you have earned it and because place in the capital.1 The events in connec­ After seven years of struggle, the demo­ The people and the Rebel Army must be it isn't right for the soldiers of the tyranny tion with the coup are not known to the Rebel cratic victory of the people must be com­ more united and firm than ever, not to allow to go on tramping your streets in boots so Army. The people are to remain on the alert plete - so that there will never be another a victory that has cost so much blood to be often drenched with revolutionary blood. and obey only the instructions issued by March 10 in our homeland.2 snatched away. People of Santiago, the garrison of Santiago 1 As he fled the island Batista handed power de Cuba is surrounded by over to Gen. Eulogio Cantillo. For more reading from Pathfinder Press c our forces. If they 2 On March 10, 1952, Batista, a retired gen­ haven't laid down their eral, carried out a coup d'etat against the govern­ Episodes of the Cuban Revolutionary War, 1956-58 arms by 6:00p.m. today, ment of Carlos Prio. With Washington's sup­ fmesto Che Guevara our troops will advance port, Batista established a military dictatorship, Ernesto Che Guevara, Argentine by birth, became a central leader of the Cuban on the city and storm the canceling scheduled elections and suspending the revolution and one of the outstanding communists of the 20th century. This book is his enemy positions. 1940 constitution. Following the coup, Castro began organizing a revolutionary movement to firsthand account of the military campaigns and political events that culminated in the All air and maritime traffic to and from the city overthrow the Batista tyranny. January 1959 popular insurrection that overthrew the U.S.-backed dictatorship in Cuba. will be prohibited as of With clarity and humor, Guevara describes his own political education. He explains how 6:00p.m. today. 3 Cuban working people responded to this the struggle transformed the men and women of the RebefArmy and july 26 Movement Santiago de Cuba, the call for a general strike with an uprising that para­ lyzed the country. The army garrison in Santiago . led by Fidel Castro.And how these combatants forged apolitical leadership capable of thugs who murdered so de Cuba surrendered in the afternoon of January guiding millions of workers and peasants to open the socialist revolution in theAmeri­ many ofyour children will 1, and Castro's forces began their week-long march cas.$23.95 not escape - as Batista across the country to Havana. Rebel Army col­ and the big criminals did, umns headed by Camilo Cienfuegos and Ernesto In Defense of Socialism with the collaboration of Che Guevara took control of the main army bases Four ~es on the 30th anniversary of the Cuban revolution the officers who led last of the dictatorship in Havana on January 2. Fidel Ftde/Costro · night's treacherous Castro was appointed prime minister on Feb. 16, 1959. A detailed account of these events is Economic and social progress is possible without the dog-eat-dog competition of coup. Santiago de Cuba, you included in Fidel Castro's speech ofJan. 1, 1989, capitalism, Castro argues, and socialism.remainsthe ontyway contained in In Defense of Socialism: Four are not free yet. Those forward for humimityAiso discusses Cuba's role in the struggle Speeches on the 30th Anniversary of the Cuban who oppressed you for Revolution, pp. 39-58 . . against the apartheid regime in southemAfrica.$13.95 seven years, the murder­ ers of hundreds of your 4 Mambi was the name given to fighters against best children, are still Spanish colonial rule in Cuba's wars of indepen­ To Speak the Truth walking free in your dence of 1868-78 and 1895-98, many of whom WbyWPhington•s•CotdVfar' against Cuba Doesn't End streets. The war is not were Black agricultural workers and former slaves. In 1898, as Cuban independence forces were on Frdel Castro and Che Guevara yet over, because the murderers are still armed. the verge of victory over the Spanish colonial lnhi$toricspeeches before the United Nations and UN bodies, Guevara and Castro · army the U.S. government declared war on Spain The putschist military address the workers of the world, explaining why the U.S. government so hates the and invaded Cuba. After occupying Santiago de are trying to keep the example set by the socialist revolution in Cuba and why Washington's effort to destroy it Cuba, on the eastern end of the island, the U.S. rebels from entering will fail. $16.95 military refused to allow Cuban troops into the Santiago de Cuba. We are city. Washington's military occupation of Cuba forbidden to enter a city lasted until 1901, when the Platt Amendment, Available from bookstores, including those listed on page 12, or write Pathfinder,4! OWest St., NewYork, NY ! 0014. that we could take with co~ifying U.S. domination, was imposed. Tel: (212) 741..0690. Fax: (212) 727-0150. ·

8 The Militant January 18, 1999 Cubans honor Tania and others who fought with Che Guevara

BY HILDA CUZCO Americans coming to fight alongside us and combat on Aug. 31,1967. Cubans celebrated the 40th anniversary write new pages of history and glory." Valdes noted that her of the Battle of Santa Clara, one of the final The remains of Tania and the others, re­ mother did not hesitate in decisive battles of the Cuban revolutionary cently recovered in Bolivia, were flown deciding that Bunke's re­ war, with a December 30 rally and military Santa Clara from Havana December 29 and mains should be buried in ceremony honoring Haydee Tamara Bunke, taken to the Jose Marti library in a military Cuba, as did the relatives of known by her nom de guerre Tania, and nine procession. the other fighters. The revo­ other combatants who fought with Etnesto The participation of women in the cer­ lutionaries honored along Che Guevara in Bolivia in 1967. emony in Santa Clara, and other events pay­ with Tania, known as well Raul Castro, minister of the Revolution­ ing tribute to the one woman combatant in by their noms de guerre, ary Armed Forces (FAR) of Cuba, presided the Bolivian campaign, was particularly are: Octavio de la Concep­ over the ceremony. Accompanying Raul notable. The Cuban daily Granma reported cion y la Pedraja (Moro ), Castro was Commander of the Revolution that 80 women, as well as members of the Manuel Hernandez Osorio Ramiro Valdes, who also participated in the Association of Combatants of the Cuban (Miguel), and interrment of the combatants in the same Revolution and children in the Pioneers, Mario Gutierrez mausoleum where Che Guevara and six headed the procession. They were joined by Ardaya (Julio) other were interred Oct. 17, 1997. combatants from the column led by Gue­ of Cuba; Fran­ Left, Haydee Tamara Brig. Gen. Delsa Tete Puebla, the only vara in the Cuban revolutionary war, which cisco Huanca Bunke, known by her nom woman general in the FAR, led the troops won the surrender of Batista's forces in Flores (Pablito ), de guerre Tania. The aims in the military ceremony, who were re­ Santa Clara on Dec. 30, 1958. Julio Luis for which she and others viewed by Brig. Gen. Enrique Acevedo. Nadia Bunke, Tania's mother; Aleida Mendez Korne fought in Bolivia "remain Guevara, an Argentine-born revolution­ March, the widow ofChe Guevara, and her . (Nato), Roberto both a necessity and an in­ arywho became a central leader ofthe Rebel children; and survivors of the Bolivian cam­ Peredo Leigue spiration for the future of Army in the struggle to overthrow the U.S.­ paign Brig. Gen. Harry Villegas (Pombo) (Coco), Aniceto Latin America." Above, backed dictatorship ofFulgencio Batista in and Col. Leonardo Tamayo (Urbano) at­ Reinaga Gordi­ young women receive mili­ Cuba, led a unit of Bolivian, Peruvian, and tended. The Cuban press described a seem­ llo (Aniceto ), tary training in Cuba. Cuban combatants in Bolivia in 1966-67. ingly endless line of men and women of all and Jaime Their effort was aimed at toppling the ages who then came to the library to pay Arana Campero ing Tania and the other in­ military regime there and forging an inter­ homage to the fallen combatants until past (Chapaco) of ternationalist fighters, "we national movement capable of accomplish­ one in the morning. The first to pass were Bolivia; and can state that the Reinforce­ ing in countries throughout Latin America 2,000 members of the Federation of Cuban Edilberto Lucio ment Brigade, now what working people in Cuba had proven Women (FMC). Galvan (E.usta­ strengthened, is made more was possible by taking power. Che was At the December 30 rally Commander quio ), of Peru. invincible - by the power wounded in combat and captured on Oct. 8, Valdes pointed in his speech to Tania's cou­ The combat~ of their example, their mo­ 1967, and the Bolivian military, after seek­ rageous life in the revolutionary movement. ants who to­ rale, and their revolutionary ing agreement from their mentors in Wash­ Born in Argentina in 1937 to German par­ gether with Che Guevara made up the "re­ message - for the present and future gen­ ington, murdered him the next day. ents who had fled the fascist regime, Bunke inforcement brigade" welcomed in October erations .... The times, the conditions, and At the 1997 ceremony for Guevara and was one of the many young people drawn 1997 are: Alberto Fernandez (Pacho), Or­ the methods may change, but we can say his comrades, Cuban president Fidel Castro to the example of the Cuban revolution. In lando Pantoja (Antonio), Rene Martinez that 31 years since the fall of Che and his had described the internationalists who Bolivia Tania served as part of the under­ Tamayo (Arturo), and Carlos Coello (Tuma) comrades of the Bolivian guerrilla, the ob­ fought in Bolivia "as reinforcements, as a ground support for the guerrilla led by Che, of Cuba; Simon Cuba (Willy) of Bolivia; jectives for which they fought remain both detachment of invincible fighters, who this until her cover was blown and she joined and Juan Pablo Chang (Chino) of Peru. a necessity and an inspiration for the future time include not only Cubans but Latin the combatants in the mountains. She fell in Granma quoted Valdes that in welcom- of Latin America." Clinton touts 'policy initiatives' on Cuba, maintains aim of overthrowing revolution BY BILL KALMAN Orioles professional baseball team to play pose the sale ofagricultural supplies because censes from the U.S. Treasury Department. AND ERNIE MAILHOT two exhibition games against the Cuban " ... any such sales could bolster the state, The planes can fly, but people can't. None MIAMI- U.S. president William Clin­ national team, one in Baltimore and one in which virtually controls all food produc­ of the measures fulfill the needs for normal­ ton and secretary of state Madeleine Havana, with proceeds going to Catholic tion." Peter Romero, aCting assistant secre­ ization of relations between Cuba and the Albright announced a series of measures Relief Services. This is part of an adrninis- tary for Western Hemisphere affairs, ex­ United ~tates." January 5 that they claimed would "ease the . tration policy that uses Catholic charities to plained the government's intentions are "to The New York Times quoted Cuban for­ plight of the Cuban people." Though touted circumvent the Cuban government. promote a very nascent, nongovernmental eign minister Roberto Robaina saying that by the media as a "relaxing" of some of the Other measures announced by Clinton sector in Cuba in a way that they are able to Washington's new measures "don't really go brutal U.S. sanctions imposed on Cuba, include increasing charter flights to Cuba, exercise increasing autonomy and, obvi­ to the root of the problem. The root of the these measures are actually part of reestablishing direct mail service, and ously, increase their ranks." problem is still a blockade that is unjust." Washington's strategy to continue the eco­ "strengthening Radio and TV Marti," which Andres Gomez, a leader of the Antonio Robaina had just arrived in Haiti, where the nomic blockade of the island. They flow broadcast counterrevolutionary program­ Maceo Brigade, an organization of Cuban­ Cuban government has taken the initiative from the U.S. capitalists' unrelenting hos­ ming from Florida. Another part calls for Americans who support the Cuban revolu­ to send volunteer doctors to help meet the tility towards the Cuban people and their "launching new public diplomacy programs tion, told the Militant, "The fundamental dire need for medical care that was exacer­ revolution. At the press conference, Albright in Latin America and Europe to keep inter­ problems are not being addressed. This is bated last year by Hurricane Georges. used the occasion to attack the revolution­ national attention focused on the need for window dressing. There will be more flight!? ary government ofCuba as a "repressive and change in Cuba." Some of these changes, from more U.S. cities to more Cuban cities, Bill Kalman is a member of the United backward-looking regime." such as the direct mail service to the island but Cuban-Americans are still restricted to Transportation Union. Ernest Mailhot is a Later Albright told public television's and additional flights, will need Cuban gov­ one visit per year. Others in the U.S. camiot member ofthe International Association of NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, "We're going ernment approval to be implemented. travel legally except with hard-to-gain li- Machinists. to keep our pressure up against Castro. We As part of these moves, Clinton named have bipartisan support for these measures." Jose Collado to succeed Jorge Mas Canosa The press conference came as the Clin­ as chair of the bipartisan Advisory Board Now available in English and Spanish! ton administration rejected a proposal from for Cuban Broadcasting, which oversees 24 Democratic and Republican senators and both Radio and TV Marti. This post had Che Guevara and the three Republican former secretaries of state been vacant since the death over a year ago to set up a bipartisan commission to review of Mas Canosa, who headed the rightist Imperialist Reality all aspects ofU.S. policy towards Cuba, in­ Cuban American National Foundation. BY MARY-ALICE WATERS Collado is a Democrat and a regional vice­ cluding the trade embargo. This proposal, Ernesto Che Guevara was among the most out­ whose backers argue for what they hope will president of the United Brotherhood of Car­ be more effective ways to put pressure penters and Joiners of America. Collado's standing leaders to emerge from the millions against the Cuban revolution, was attacked resume, supplied by the White House, points of men and women who have made the social­ vociferously by many hard-line conserva­ out that he was once appointed by then presi­ ist revolution in Cuba, changing the history of tives and Cuban-American rightists. dent of the AFL-CIO Lane Kirkland to the our epoch. These pages highlight the interna­ organization's anti-Cuban outfit called the The Clinton administration's measures tionalist perspective that Guevara, as part of the include changing the law so that not only Labor Committee for a Free Cuba. Cuban-Americans but any U.S. residents can Various rightist politicians in Miami as Cuban leadership, acted on-from Vietnam to now send up to $1,200 a year to Cuban in­ well as the Miami Herald expressed oppo­ Cuba, from Africa to Latin America and the dividuals and "organizations independent of sition to some of Clinton's measures. Re­ United States. Waters explains how Che's course the government"; allowing the sale of some publican Congresswoman Ileana Ros­ strengthened the working class and its allies food and agricultural products to "indepen­ Lehtinen and Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, both within the center of world capitalism itself while dent nongovernment entities" such as res­ from Miami, said they would oppose any improving the odds in the worldwide struggle taurants or co..,.ops; and increasing "people food sales to Cuba as illegal. to people" contact by streamlining the ap­ The Herald, a vocal opponent of the Cu­ against the imperialist reality. $3.50 proval process for cultural, athletic, and aca­ ban revolution, supported Clinton's propos­ demic exchanges. In particular, the Clinton als, along with the continuing economic Avqilable ·from bookstores, including those listed on page 12, or write administration would allow the Baltimore blockade. The papers editors said they op- Pathfinder. 4l0West St., NeW York, NY 10014. Tel: (212) 74 h0690. Fax: (212)727-0150. When ordering by mail, please include $3 to cover shipping.arid handling.

January 18, 1999 The Militant 9 Crisis deepens over Clinton impeachment

Continued from front page ally, Japan, have not been aided by the threat of a steep economic downturn has were wrong." Buchanan was referring here those who are Black - appear to be op­ Administration's bad economic policy ad­ become tangible, a majority in the ruling to Democratic congressmen Gephardt and posed to the attempt to remove Clinton. vice." Pointing to what they called "symp­ classes in western Europe and North Frank and Republicans Hyde and DeLay. The response by the liberals controlling toms of waning influence," the editors of America have opted, for now, to lower in­ Hyde chaired the House judiciary commit­ the White House so far is to refuse to give the conservative daily stated, "Despite Mr. terest rates, speak demagogically ofjob cre­ tee that introduced the articles of impeach­ in to the effort to oust Clinton, while shift­ Clinton's repeated warnings that Saddam's ation, and distance themselves to a degree ment in Congress. Frank is a liberal who has ing their domestic policy proposals on so­ weapons of mass destruction posed a lethal from previous proposals to slash social pro­ occasionally been singled out by rightists cial programs slightly to the right and ac­ threat to the populations of Western Europe, grams. This is how many Democratic Party for being gay. celerating Washington's drive toward war. the U.S. was only able to muster one Euro­ politicians campaigned leading up to the In a January 2 column, titled "Un-Ameri­ Senate majority leader Trent Lott an­ pean ally, Britain, for the attack on Iraq last November 3 elections, in which they made can Ivy League," Buchanan denounced nounced January 5 that the president's im­ month. Now, after the attack, Saddam still gains, narrowing the Republican majority those "who have lectured America for years peachment trial would begin two days later. thumbs his nose and there is no clear evi­ in Congress. Such promises by the liberals, on racism and prejudice" and are "them­ At the same time, statements by Lott and a dence of how much the attacks succeeded of course, are nothing but deceit. selves closet bigots" and said that white growing number of other Republican poli­ in 'degrading' his ability to threaten great The Clinton administration, since the Catholics and Protestants are discriminated ticians indicated that a bipartisan deal floated harm to Europe and the Middle East." president was first elected in 1992, has against in college admissions through affir­ earlier to avert a lengthy trial and simply The Journal's editors were also uneasy worked hard to make domestic policy more mative action, to the supposed benefit of censure Clinton was off. about the results of NATO intervention in bipartisan, leading the employers assault on Jews and Asians. Referring to this plan, Republican sena­ Yugoslavia and about worsening relations the rights and social gains of working Conservative politicians at the center of tor Larry Craig of Idaho said, "I think it's with Moscow. "The NATO involvement in people. Clinton's "anticrime" and "antiter­ the impeachment drive have their own dead, and finally, I hope it's dead." policing what was left of Bosnia after the rorism" bills expanded use of the death pen­ records of having courted "white citizens The aborted deal would have condensed war has not contributed much to NATO alty; narrowed the right of appeal of the con­ only" organizations. Trent Lott has in the Clinton's trial to a few days by barring wit­ unity," the editorial said. "Rather, it has ex­ victed, especially those on death row; and past been associated with pro-Confederacy nesses and then holding "test vows" on posed underlying tensions, between the U.S. pushed backed freedom from illegal search groups. He addressed the Sons of Confed­ whether the two articles of impeachment and France, for example .... The Russians, and seizure further than other administra­ erate Veterans and spoke to Southern Parti­ approved by the House of Representatives by no means as domesticated as Deputy tions even dreamed of doing. The president san. a magazine that extols the virtues of warrant Clinton's removal from office. A Secretary of State Strobe Talbott would made good on his pledge to "end welfare as the slaveholders' Confederacy. He also ad­ two-thirds majority is required to oust the hope, exploit these divisions. we know it," by signing a bill that elimi­ dressed members of the Council of Conser­ president, which most capitalist politicians "Indeed, relations with Russia are at a nated federally guaranteed Aid for Families vative Citizens in 1992, though he later dis­ and pundits have been arguing would be post-Cold War nadir." with Dependent Children in 1996. And he tanced himself from the organization and its very difficult for the Republicans to muster. The recent pact between the governments has turned the Immigration and Naturaliza­ racist views. The Senate's sttats are currently divided 55- ofBelarus and Russia for an economic union tion Service into one of the most heavily In a column in the January 7 New York 45 between Republicans and Democrats. If and other ties between the two republics has armed government agencies that has quali­ Times, Bob Herbert quoted a report by the less than 67 senators found Clinton guilty, evoked the ire of many capitalist politicians tatively stepped up harassment of immigrant Southern Poverty Law Center, an Alabama the trial could adjourn by a simple majority and pundits. "Belarus's chief pursues dream workers and deportations. group that monitors racist outfits. The re­ vote and the Senate would then move to­ to revive the old Soviet Union," was the All this has not been enough for the right, port stated, "The Council of Conservatives wards censure. Before New Year's, the tide headline of a front-page article in the De­ which demands not only further inroads into is the reincarnation of the racist White Citi­ was turning against such an arrangement. cember 27 New York Times. Moscow has social gains but moving towards a complete zens Councils of the 1950s and 1960s." Senator James Inhofe, a Republican from already defaulted on loans from foreign in­ reversal of affirmative action and even do­ Sensing that the "cultural war" offensive Oklahoma, called the deal a "whitewash." vestors to the tune of $45 billion. These ing away with Social Security altogether. by the rightists is aimed not primarily at According to the January 6 New York events have intensified the collision course These are among the ultimate goals of ul­ Clinton but at reversing social gains won in Post, Sen. Robert Byrd, a Democrat from between Moscow and Washington, espe­ trarightist politicians, who are the main struggle, millions of working people have West Virginia, became the first in Clinton's cially over NATO expansion into Eastern pushers and beneficiaries of the opposed the impeachment. Most opinion party to indicate he may vote guilty in the and Central Europe aimed at positioning scandalmongering and "exposes" of the dis­ polls have shown thatlarge majorities op­ trial. "I could go either way based on the U.S. forces closer to Russia's borders in soluteness and corruption of Clinton and Co. pose the attempts to remove Clinton from evidence as I've seen or heard it," he said. preparation for military attempts to restore In a number of syndicated columns cam­ office - an indication that many working "And I've followed it closely." the domination of capitalism throughout the paigning for removing Clinton from office, people have steered clear of the trap of the Just three days earlier, several senators former Soviet republics. Buchanan has used strong language to de­ politics of resentment laid by the ultraright. from both parties, including Republican Phil nounce any deal that would lead to censure The union tops ofthe AFL-CIO have tried Gramm of Texas and Democrat Robert Politics of resentment and push for a full Senate trial that would to channel this sentiment into political sup­ Torricelli of New Jersey, called on Clinton · The "cultural war" offensive by right­ prolong and further institutionalize the sa­ port for the Democratic Party. They have to postpone his State of the Union address, wing forces is a response to a shift to the ~ lacious saga that can best be described as organized a number of"anti-impeachment" scheduled for January 19, if the impeach­ left in bourgeois politics in most imperialist pornographication of politics. "Any deal to rallies to back Clinton and his policies, in­ ment trial is still going on. Lott now says countries, which has been evident for nearly abort a trial," Buchanan said in a December cluding offering support for the bombing of the trial could last into February. The House two years and has gone hand-in-hand with 23 column, "would be craven .... Censure is Iraq. And groups on the left like the Com­ of Representatives voted to impeach Clin­ a rise of social polarization and Bonapartist a fraud and a political fix." munist Party USA have campaigned against ton December 19. The two articles of im­ figures like Minnesota governor Jesse In a January 5 column, Buchanan said, impeachment by throwing more oftheir sup­ peachment that were approved accused Clin­ Ventura (see article on page 4). As work­ "IfLott buys into this deal, he will be hand­ port behind an array of liberal politicians. ton of perjury in his testimony to a federal ing-class resistance to the bosses' belt-tight­ ing over 34 liberal Democrats the authority The response by the liberals in Congress grand jury, in relation to his affair with ening demands has intensified in the United to declare Dick Gephardt and Barney Frank and the White House has been to stick to former White House employee Monica States and other capitalist powers, and the were right and Henry Hyde and Tom DeLay Continued on Page 14 Lewinsky, and of obstruction of justice. Offensive from weakness, not strength Despite repeated predictions to the con­ UN 'inspectors' were U.S. government spies trary, rightists seeking Clinton's ouster seem to retake the initiative at each juncture. "The Continued from Page 3 have those kindsof plans on the shelf," said ests in Egypt." Following the four-day blitz, political reality is that conservatives have acknowledged January 6 that U.S. spies Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. anti-imperialist protests numbering in the consistently emerged as the dominant force were part of the "inspection" teams. Henry Shelton, in response to this sugges­ thousands and tens of thousands erupted in in the impeachment drive against Mr. Clin­ According to the January 6 Washington tion from Sen. John McCain. Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Morocco, ton," said an article in the January 6 Wall Post, UN secretary general Kofi Annan said Clinton's aggression has posed a dilemma and the West Bank. Street Journal. '"The only people who have he had proof that UN "weapons inspectors" for Arab regimes in the region as political The 22-member Arab League postponed an endgame in mind are the people who want used their so-called arm search program to instability intensifies amid growing pres­ until January 24 a meeting of Arab foreign him out of office,' one Republican said." eavesdrop for Washington on sensitive dis­ sures on them to condemn the punishing ministers to discuss the bombing raids on This rightist offensive comes from a po­ cussions among Iraqi government officials. sanctions imposed on the Iraqi people. Cit­ Iraq. "The meeting would have told the sition of weakness, not strength. U.S. The Boston Globe reported that surveil­ ing rising temperatures since the December world and the Iraqi population that Iraq's imperialism's economic superiorityvis-a-vis lance equipment permitted the snoops to lis­ air strikes, London's Financial Times re­ isolation was over," said an Iraqi govern­ its allies in Europe, which are also rivals in ten in on radio, cell phone, and walkie-talkie ported January (, that the U.S. embassy in ment official, charging that the governments trade and markets, has probably peaked. In communications by members of the Iraqi se­ Cairo alleged it received threats of "immi­ in Egypt and Saudi Arabia sought the delay the middle of a world deflationary crisis that curity network. Former "inspector" Scott nent unspecified attacks against US inter- to defuse rising outrage over the bombing. has deeply affected southeast Asia, Russia, Ritter asserted that last March Washington and other countries, competition between the pushed aside the British and Israeli spy team imperialist powers has intensified. and took over the operation itself. The French-based Airbus Industrie has made further inroads against its main rival, Washington floats new bombing plans the U.S. aerospace giant Boeing. On Janu­ Washington has run into a brick wall in ary 6, Boullioun Aviation Services, a U.S. its aims to topple the Iraqi government and aircraft leasing company founded by a replace it with a protectorate beholden to former Boeing executive, announced its first U.S. interests. Iraq contains some 10 per­ purchase of Airbus jets. The launching of cent ofthe Earth's oil reserves- more than the euro has raised the prospect that not just any country in the world except Saudi the U.S. dollar but three main currencies - Arabia, and more than Canada, Mexico, and the dollar, the euro, and the yen - are likely the United States combined. to compete for domination of the world's In addition to wanting control of this re­ fmancial markets, raising the specter of mili- · source, Washington has sought to create a tary conflicts among the imperialist powers subservient regime that can police the re­ (see article on page 3). gion for U.S. imperialism, as the Iranian Anticipation ofthe closeness and sudden­ monarch did until he was overthrown by the ness of such crises is behind the coarsening Iranian toilers in a massive revolution in of bourgeois politics that has become so 1979. evident in the year-long scandal. With no stomach for launching a major "In its latest issue, The National Interest ground invasion or a sustained bombing makes a plausible case that ties between U.S. campaign, the Clinton administration has and Europe are fraying," said the main edi­ resorted to intermittent air strikes on the torial in the January 4 Wall Street Journal, Iraqi people. The White House has begun titled "U.S. leadership in doubt." It contin­ to publicly float preparations for bombing ued, "Relations with another long-standing the airfields where Iraqi jets took off. "We 10 The Militant January 18, 1999 Aluminum strike Continued from front page the strikers are using the allowed 45 sec­ to keep his or her job assignment, with fail­ onds to create a disciplined, serious pres­ ure to do so leading to termination. ence in the face of company attempts to run The plant dominates the two bordering production unimpeded. The strikers have towns of Gramercy and Lutcher, whose also been forced back to the edge of the road combined population is -about 7,000. The where the plant entrance is, reversing apre­ US\v'l\ other major employer in the area is the Co­ vious setup where the company had agreed 5102. lonial sugar mill, situated next to the Kaiser to the sheriff's request to move its fence ON plant, both along the banks of the Missis­ some yards back, allowing pickets to stand sippi River. Most of the product sent out of a safer distance from traffic along the major STR\KE the Gramercy plant is shipped up the river thoroughfare. UNFAIR_.._ .. k{elc~e in barges. There is a steady stream of honks Many strikers are working other jobs to Lt\SOR from cars and trucks, as drivers passing by cover bills while the fight goes on, includ­ RRACTtc.E -rc Ca,p CY'CQ show their solidarity with the strikers. ing working turnaround jobs in local refin­ The company is using the union-busting eries. Strikers and their families are espe­ outfit Vance Security in an attempt to in­ cially affected by the loss of medical cover­ timidate strikers. These thugs videotape the age, which was provided at no extra cost picket line and have set up microphones to under the old contract. To maintain their pick up strikers' conversations. coverage, many are paying between $300 Kaiser is also using a contracting outfit and $400 a month. named Harmony to hire scabs, with people The conditions Kaiser would like to im­ coming from other states as well as nearby pose are familiar to members of the striking towns in Texas and Louisiana. While there local because some of the workers in their has been a big turnover, strikers reported, local have faced the same takebacks from Kaiser is currently running the plant with another company. Kaiser sold the chemical 280 workers, down from the high of 600 at and coker units of the Gramercy plant, with the beginning of the strike. The company about 175 and 30 workers respectively, to Militant/Roberto Guerrero has made claims that productivity is around the chemical company La Roche in 1988. Steelworkers picket Kaiser Aluminum in Gramercy, Louisiana, in late December. 80 percent. But according to striking main­ The coker was subsequently sold to a com­ Sign in center reads: "Welcome to 'Camp Creole,' Scabs not welcome." Workers are tenance worker Paul Deroche, "they are hav­ pany called CII Carbon. There was a fight determined to push back the bosses' union-busting contract proposals. ing problems with quality. we:ve heard that over the contract for the coker unit. USWA product has been rejected by some custom­ members had been working under the fired, and they have since been working customers. The workers have been on strike ers." company's final offer when they were under the newly implemented terms. Wayne since June 26, 1998, in an effort to win a Despite a recent unfavorable injunction locked out, accused of sabotage by the com­ Stafford, president ofLocal5702, explained union contract, which would be the first one against the union, pickets continue around pany. The company fired three workers they these include a form of"the skill block pro­ at a Southwire plant if they succeed. The the clock. Louisiana law permits pickets to claimed were responsible for the so-called gram," which means the company awards workers won a union election vote in 1997. block traffic going in and out of a plant be­ sabotage. A grand jury was convened to jobs on the basis of "skill" instead of se­ The strike was called to protest unfair labor ing struck. Until this injunction the strikers consider charges against the three workers niority. practices, including attempts to push people were operating under a ruling from the 1993- but declined to indict anyone. Strikers are closely following similar la­ to quit the union. They are also fighting to 96 Bayou Steel strike that restricted the time The union filed and won a ruling against bor battles. Literature about the Steelwork­ get a union contract, for a retirement plan, permitted to delay traffic to 90 seconds. The the lockout by the National Labor Relations ers on strike against Titan Tire in Des vacation time that was taken away in the latest injunction cuts this time in half and Board, which the company appealed. The Moines, Iowa, and Natchez, Mississippi, is past, and other benefits. limits to one the number of pickets permit­ appeal is scheduled to be heard in the com­ spread around the union hall. ted to actually walk in front of and delay ing months. In the meantime the company In addition, 400 USWA members are on Phil Duzinski and Laura Garza are mem­ each vehicle. was forced to allow workers to return to the strike against Southwire in Hawesville, Ken­ bers of the International Association of As was the case under the 90-second rule, plant last summer, except for the three they tucky, one of Kaiser-Gramercy's biggest Machinists in Houston. What Northwest Airlines workers need is a unified fight for a contract and labor solidarity BY MARY MARTIN facing company victimization. structures and the organizational forms that September weighs in on the side ofthe con­ WASHINGTON, D.C.~ The November It also hurts those workers who face the come out of the shattering and restructuring tract fight facing the rest of the Northwest 20 victory of the Aircraft Mechanics Fra­ challenge of forging a similar fight among of the union institutions. This shake up will workers. We should invite the pilots to raise ternal Association (AMFA) over the Inter­ AMFA members. Many of these workers are continue under the impact of the polariza­ their voices on behalf of all those without a national Association of Machinists (lAM) sure to come to the conclusion that the divi­ tion of political views, which accompanies new contract at Northwest. in a representation election at Northwest siveness and pro-company policies of the world economic crisis of the capitalism. The ongoing struggle waged by Sky Airlines separated 9,500 mechanics and AMFA officials must be opposed. Whatever structures exist, our eyes must be Chefs workers in London against cutting the cleaners from other unionists who are on the rank-and-file workers and we must catering crews to one person deserves pub­ ground operations workers at Northwest. Reject all fingering of co-workers tum our efforts to utilizing whatever forms lic support, especially from airline workers. AMFA officials campaigned against the Both the lAM tops and some AMFA sup­ exist to defend our interests. The Sky Chefs workers are resisting the idea oflabor solidarity and unity. JAM offi­ porters have fingered co-workers to the com­ safety hazards and the speedup already cials haven't organized effectively, either, pany, which should be rejected by all rank­ The battle for workers' unity today implemented in the United States, includ­ to lead a fight to defend the interests of union and-file unionists. Such actions are deeply All unionists at Northwest~ 10,000 ing at the airport where I work. members. Many of those who voted for detrimental to the working class, destroy­ Teamsters-organized flight attendants, We can also look beyond the airline in­ ing the potential to trust and rely on each 9,500 aircraft mechanics and cleaners rep­ dustry to labor battles and social struggles other in the class battle we are engaged in resented by AMFA, and 17,000 other ground being waged around issues of vital impor­ to defend our living standard and democratic operations workers organized by the Ma­ tance to workers everywhere, such as the UNION TALK rights. We need to fight to expand ~not chinists~ hold in common objective inter­ many actions recently organized around the limit~ the right for political debate and ests and challenges. country to protest U.S. war moves against campaigning on the job, including over We all work for Northwest Airlines and the people of Iraq, and the strike of coal AMFA did so because they wanted to vote union questions. none of us have new contracts, 27 months miners at Freeman Coal in Illinois who for a change in the status quo of the union Following these developments some after the previous ones expired. In July the battled for more than three months resisting officialdom they've experienced. workers have focused their anger on one vast majority of workers in the lAM, includ­ the company's attempt to gut seniority pro­ JAM officials, in a bid to stave off AMFA, another ~ ramp workers blaming mechan­ ing mechanics, cleaners, and ramp workers, visions and cut medical benefits to retirees. attempted to match AMFA's 'elite and sepa­ ics for our weakened situation in relation to turned down the company's contract offer. In the course of this kind of struggle we rate' concept by offering to set up a sepa­ the company and vice versa. No new contract means we have made no can forge a union capable of defending the rate union district within the lAM just for Some ramp workers have said, "To hell progress on winning protection against most vulnerable workers ~ new hires, im­ mechanics and related jobs, leaving the rest with the mechanics!" and argue that the best farming out ofunionjobs or against layoffs. migrant workers, women, Black workers, of the ramp, clerical, and other workers in course for ramp workers is take over as many Likewise, none of us have won the wage members of all oppressed nationalities who the existing union district. This move ~ not of the mechanics job functions as pos­ raise needed to begin to try to catch up on face discrimination, and older workers who yet abandoned by the lAM officials, despite sible ~ pushing back the aircraft, adding oil the effects of the multimillion dollar pay cut after a lifetime of work are trying to make it the AMFA win~ goes in the opposite di­ to the engines, and changing tires. This will we took in 1993. And retirees pensions re­ safely through their final working years and rection of unifying the work force and mean that scores of mechanics will lose their main at levels well below industry averages. be able to afford to retire. strengthening the union. jobs. The ramp workers have no interest in Most importantly, as the Northwest A union that can organize the unorganized Similarly wrong-headed is one of the campaigning for such job combinations and bosses' profit crisis deepens, we need to on a massive scale and will demand that lAM officialdom's main challenges to the speedup. This course only pits workers transform our ranks into a battle-ready, con­ safety for airline workers and the flying AMFA election victory, on the grounds that against each other and plays into the fident, and unified workforce that can resist public come before corporate profits. To get the company gave pro-AMFA workers per- · company's divide-and-conquer strategy. the next wave of concessions demanded of this requires transforming our unions and mission to campaign during work hours, Workers at Northwest Airlines also have us. ultimately transforming society. permission which the lAM says it was de­ no interest in another election right now that We should look for allies in this fight for To make any headway as workers, from nied. The lAM's challenge actually wors­ would again pit lAM and AMFA officials a contract and for a strengthened union. The winning a decent contract to fighting the ens the situation for workers at Northwest, against each other. Our interests lie in more flight attendants have led the way in orga­ company's assault on the unions, workers and especially for workers on the company's class-struggle battles unfolding, more op­ nizing mass leafleting and informational at Northwest Airlines need to reject the no­ disciplinary list, by providing sworn state­ portunities for us to flex our muscle and picketing days at several airports on many tion that we are each other's problem. In­ ments, at least one photo, and names of sev­ learn· to mobilize our strength against the occasions over the past year. stead we should fight to unify our ranks eral workers alleged to have carried out pro­ bosses. This is the course that will advance Another example we can point to is the based on labor solidarity and class-conscious AMFA campaigning while on the job, in the interests of all union fighters at North­ joint action held by Alaska Air and North­ ideas necessary for defending and advanc­ supposed violation of company rules. west. west Airlines workers who rallied at the ing our interests as workers. The lAM's challenge of the AMFA elec­ Class-conscious workers who fought vig­ Seattle-Tacoma airport in November to de­ tion is an obstacle to organizing the fight orously against the political views advanced mand a just contract. More such protests are Mary Martin is a member of JAM Local that's needed to transform the lAM into an by AMFA officials must now move on. We needed. The favorable contract won by the 1759 on the ramp at Northwest Airlines at instrument that will defend all the workers must not get blinded by or fixated on the Northwest pilots after a two-week strike in Washington National Airport.

Janu~ry 1~7 .~999 The Militant 11 NATO threatens Yugoslavia intervention Continued from Page 16 • to return was touted as a major achievement few daughters of the farmers and workers in diplomats of the Contact Group- made up stop the regime in Belgrade, and Milosevic." of the Milosevic-Holbrooke agreement. But the Llausha area. "The people who live here of representatives of the governments of the At the same time, Dugolli said "there are a the reality isn't so simple. are all soldiers," said Geqi. He testified to United States, Russia, Britain, France, Ger­ lot of diplomats who treat Milosevic as a Baroni described the situation in the renewed buildup of Belgrade's forces. many, and Italy - have been in Kosova partner for peace, a partner for negotiations." Mitrovica, "an industrial town with all the "We have been hearing shooting since early since December 19 pressuring Albanian lead­ Dugolli is also aware that the imperialist pow­ workers fired." At the height of the govern­ December. Milosevic was the first to sign ers into renewed negotiations with the re­ ers involved in the NATO operation do not ment offensive, the population of 120,000 - the cease-fire, but he is the one bringing gime in Belgrade. While rejecting Albanians act out of support for the rights of Alba­ 85 percent ofwhom are Albanian- swelled back forces. They were just hidden from the demand for independence of Kosova, nians. "You can't say that there's no NATO to around 168,000 people. Baroni explained asphalt road." The rebel soldier added, "We Petritsch called on the UCK to "renounce interest. This is not just about Kosova. Ev­ that while some ofthe refugees had returned are here and we haven't anywhere else to violence if it wants to join talks." eryone knows NATO wants to stop Russia to their villages since the cease-fire, many go. We will respond with all we have." Geqi The struggle of the Albanians in Kosova having influence in the Balkans." have nowhere to go. More than 780 houses stated that the UCK can take care of de­ is directly tied to the struggle of the Alba­ were destroyed in 20 villages in the area, fense and called on NATO to remove nians in the neighboring Republic of Evolution of independence struggle and many more damaged. Thousands of Milosevic, Macedonia for national rights. Albanians in Dugolli described the development of the Albanian families in towns like Mitrovica are Macedonia are an oppressed nationality current struggle as the evolution of the pro­ hosting displaced people from the country­ Self-determination is a necessity constituting a third of the population there, tests which the students sparked, beginning side. The commander of the UCK brigade in For the trade unions in Kosova, too, the concentrated in areas near Kosova. Arben November 1997, demanding Albanian stu­ the village of Llausha, in Drenica pointed resolution ofthe fight for self-determination Xhaferi, president of the Democratic Party dents be given access to university build­ out that 220 houses had been destroyed is seen as a precondition to resolving other of Albanians (PDSH) told Reuters on De­ ings they had been evicted from and educa­ there, so "half the village is not here." questions facing working people. "Serbia is cember 17, "We are asking for progress on tion in their own language. "At the same At the UCK guardpost just outside an occupier- it is impossible to continue rights, in matters ofeducation, language, and time as we were demanding the freeing of Llausha,just one kilometer from the nearest without a political solution," said Hajrizi of employment." The PDSH participates in the the university buildings, we were warning Serbian government forces, we spoke to the Union oflndependent Trade Unions of recently elected coalition government. "If that this was the last chance to do anything commander Geqi ofthe 119 Brigade, 1st Bat­ Kosova. He said 150,000 workers have been there is no progress," Xhaferi warned, "we concrete. The international community talion. This is a farming area where most fami­ dismissed from their jobs since 1989. Of the could face the same situation as in Kosova. didn't do anything, their support was just lies used to have members working in in­ 38,000 union members who do have some I will begin to lose my credibility and my verbal, not enough to stop the conflict. We dustry. Now they survive with subsistence kind of work, most have not been paid for function in society, just like Rugova has" in began to organize self-defense and this be­ farming and aid from relatives abroad. The months. At one construction site in Poduje­ Kosova. came a liberation movement of Albanians. main factory in the area is now a base for the vo, workers are paid in building materials: On December 29 Macedonia's parliament During this time the UCK has become the Belgrade government army. In this hard-hit In the recent military offensives, many fac­ passed an amnesty law under which Alai din main military and political factor in Kosova, village, as in the whole area, there is sub­ tories have been occupied by Belgrade's Demiri, mayor ofTetovo, and Rufi Osmani, the only force defending Albanians, and also stantial evidence ofthe defense that has been military forces. Many union members have mayor ofGostivar, as well as the presidents defending Muslims, Serbs, and Monte­ built since the first assault in March. While been killed on the way to work or abused at ofboth city councils are to be released from negrans not implicated in the war." the main roads are controlled by the Bel­ army checkpoints on their way. prison. They had been convicted in 1997 of The students' protests ceased in March grade government's forces, the Albanian flag Despite the continued threat ofair strikes defying a law by the Macedonian govern­ 1998. "After the massacres began, the air can be seen flying from hilltops, marking by NATO, several drafts of a "peace plan" ment that prohibited flying the Albanian flag was politicized by the fumes ofbuming chil­ posts ofthe UCK. Outsiders traveling in the pushed by the U.S. government have been publicly. Thousands of Albanians who see dren. We breathe that air too. Release of the area need permission both from the Belgrade rejected by the Milosevic regime as well as this flag as a symbol of their national iden­ university facilities is not very important at government authorities and from the UCK. by several Kosovar leaders of political par­ tity and dignity protested this law. the moment. We are sure we will get them People in the villages have no problem ties involved in the negotiations. With the back, because we built them, they are ours," pointing out the location ofUCK units. The increase in sporadic fighting, European Bobbis Misailides contributed to this ar­ Dugolli said. He noted many university stu­ 119 Brigade is made up of the sons and a Union envoy Wolfgang Petritsch along with ticle. dents have gone back to their home villages to volunteer. Many workers have been joining the UCK, ---MILITANT LABOR FORUMS----- said Agim Hajrizi, presfdent ofthe Union of Independent Trade Unions of Kosova, GEORGIA ecute Mumia Abu-Jamal: The Politics of Upstairs, 60 Shudehill. Donation: £2. Tel: 0161- though this is not being organized by the Fighting a Racist Frame-up and the Death 839-1766. union. Giving the example ofthe F erronickel Atlanta Penalty. Showing ofvideo: "MumiaAbu-Jamal: and munitions plant in Skenderaj, Hajrizi said The Impeachment of William Clinton and Case for a Reasonable Doubt." Fri., Jan. 15, 7:30 that the Albanian workers there were first the Crisis of Capitalist Politics. Fri., Jan. 15, p.m.J906 South Street (at 19th). Donation: $4. NEW ZEALAND 7:30 p.m. 230 Auburn Ave. (Corner of Butler). Tel: (215) 546-8218. dismissed from their jobs in 1991. Then in Donation: $4. Tel: (404) 577-7976. Auckland 1997 their homes were destroyed. "They Exploitation of Owner Drivers: Experience have been forced to go to the UCK to pro­ BRITAIN of the TranzLink Dispute. Speakers: Two driv­ tect what they have left," he noted. IOWA ers from the recent protests against TranzLink Securing the ability of 300,000 refugees Des Moines London concession contracts. Fri., Jan. 15, 7 p.m. 203 Farm Crisis Deepens. Speakers: Larry Ginter, Capitalism's Worldwide Crisis Drives the Karangahape Road Donation: $3. Tel: (9) 379- hog farmer; Ray Parsons, Socialist Workers Party. Continuing Attacks Against Iraq. Fri., Jan. 3075. Fri., Jan. 15, 7:30p.m. Dinner 6:30p.m. 2724 15, 7 p.m. 47, The Cut. Donation: £2. Tel: 0171 Christchurch California cops Douglas Ave. Donation: $4. Tel: (515) 277-4600. 928 7993. Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the So­ Manchester cialist Revolution in the Americas. The Cu­ Continued from front page PENNSYLVANIA Imperialist Troops Out of Yugoslavia! Eye­ ban Revolution 1959-Today. Speaker: and called her cousins for help. When her witness Report from Kosova. Speaker: Anne Annalucia Vermunt, Communist League. Fri., Jan. Philadelphia Howie, Communist League, who participated in 15, 7 p.m. 199 High St. Donation: $3. Tel: (3) relatives arrived at the gas station, they How to Answer the Stepped-up Drive to Ex- a Militant reporting team. Fri., Jan. 15, 7 p.m. 365-6055. found her locked inside the car and uncon­ scious. She seemed to be having a seizure. Alarmed by this, they called 911 for medical help. Instead of doctors, the police arrived. -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP--- Rev. Bernell Butler, Tyisha Miller's uncle and a spokesman for the family, said, "The Where to f"md Pathfinder books and dis­ Mailing address: Riverfront Plaza, P.O. Box 101515,2702 police arrived in a 'shoot' state of mind, a tributors of the Militant, Perspectiva 200117. Zip: 07102-0302. Tel: (973) 643- Manchester: Unit 4, 60 Shudehill. Postal 'kill' state of mind. The police version of Mundial, New International, Nouvelle 3341. Compuserve: 104216,2703 code: M4 4AA. Tel: 0161-839-1766. what happened keeps changing. First they Internationale, Nueva InternacionalandNy NEW YORK: New York City: 59 4th Av­ Compuserve: 106462,327 International. say they arrived and she had a gun in her enue (comer of Bergen) Brooklyn, NY Zip: CANADA hand, she started waving it at them, and then 11217. Tel: (718) 399-7257. Compuserve: Montreal: 4581 Saint-Denis. Postal code: fired it. Then the police had to drop the part UNITED STATES 102064,2642 ; 167 Charles St., Manhattan, ALABAMA: Birmingham: 111 21st St. NY. Zip: 10014. Tel: (212) 366-1973. H2J 2L4. Tel: (514) 284-7369. Compuserve: about her firing the gun, then they had to 104614,2606 drop the part about her waving the gun. We South Zip 35233. Tel: (205) 323-3079. OHIO: Cincinnati: P.O. Box 19300. Zip: really don't know if there was a gun in the Compuserve: 73712,3561 45219. Tel: (513) 662-193l.Cieveland: 1832 Toronto: 851 Bloor St. West. Postal code: M6G 1M3. Tel: (416) 533-4324. Compuserve: car at all. We do know that she was uncon­ CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 2546 W. Euclid. Zip: 44115. Tel: (216) 861-6150. 103474,13 scious the whole time the police were there." Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380-9460. Compuserve: 103253,1111 Compuserve: 74642,326 San Francisco: 3284 Vancouver: 3967 Main St. Postal code: Four police officers fired off their semi­ PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 1906 automatic handguns at Miller, leaving 27 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255,285- V5V 3P3. Tel: (604) 872-8343. Compuserve: 5323. Compuserve: 75604,556 South St. Zip: 19146. Tel: (215) 546-8218. 103430,1552 casings on the ground around the car. A Compuserve: 104502,1757 Pittsburgh: 1103 coroner's report showed that the young FLORIDA: Miami: 137N.E. 54th St. Zip: E. Carson St. Zip 15203. Tel: (412) 381-9785. FRANCE woman was shot four times in the head, once 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Compuserve: Compuserve: 103122,720 Paris: Centre MBE 175, 23 rue Lecourbe. in the chest, and seven other places. 103171,1674 TEXAS: Houston: 6969 Gulf Freeway, Postal code: 75015. Tel: (01) 47-26-58-21. Before the autopsy report was released GEORGIA: Atlanta: 230 Auburn Ave. Compuserve: 73504,442 on Thursday, December 31, more than 150 N.E. Zip: 30303. Tel: (404) 577-7976. Suite 380. Zip: 77087. Tel: (713) 847-0704. people gathered at a meeting organized by Compuserve: 104226,1245 Compuserve: 102527,2271 ICELAND Black leaders to ask police about the inves­ ILLINOIS: Chicago: 1223 N. Milwaukee WASHINGTON, D.C.: 1930 18th St. N. W. Reykjavik: Klapparstig 26. Mailing ad­ tigation. Butler stated that what is needed is Ave. Zip: 60622. Tel: (773) 342-1780. Suite #3 (Entrance on Florida Ave.) Zip: dress: P. Box 0233, IS 121 Reykjavik. Tel: 552 for the city of Riverside to indict the four Compuserve: 104077,511 20009. Tel: (202) 387-2185. Compuserve: 5502. INTERNET:[email protected] cops on charges of murder, so that a trial IOWA: Des Moines: 2724 Douglas Ave. 75407,3345. can take place. "The police here have a Zip: 50310. Tel: (515)277-4600. Compuserve: WASHINGTON: Seattle: 1405 E. Madi­ NEW ZEALAND shameful history ofviolence, against Blacks, 104107,1412 son. Zip: 98122. Tel: (206) 323-1755. Auckland: La Gonda Arcade, 203 against immigrants, and against others. Who Karangahape Road. Postal address: P.O. Box MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 780 Tre­ Compuserve: 74461,2544. gave them the power of God?" 3025. Tel: (9) 379-3075. Compuserve: mont St. Zip: 02118. Tel: (617) 247-6772. 100035,3205 Antoine Jones, another ofMiller's uncles, Compuserve: 103426,3430 · AUSTRALIA added, "They say the cops are paid to pro­ Christchurch: 199 High St. Postal address: MICHIGAN: Detroit: 7414 Woodward Sydney: 1st Fir, 176 Redfern St., Redfern tect us but we've never seen it. Blacks, poor NSW 2016. Mailing address: P.O. Box K879, P.O. Box 22-530. Tel: (3) 365-6055. whites, Mexicans-we're just statistics to Ave. Zip: 48202. Compuserve: 104127,3505 Compuserve: 100250,1511 Tel: (313) 875-0100. Haymarket Post Office, NSW 1240. Tel: 02- them." 9690-1533. Compuserve: 106450,2216 Another demonstration has been called MINNESOTA: St. Paul: 2490 University SWEDEN for January 7 to protest the killing. Miller's Ave. W., St. Paul. Zip: 55114. Tel: (651) 644- BRITAIN . Stockholm: Vikingagatan 10 (T -bana St family and others are also publicizing the 6325. Compuserve: 103014,3261 London: 47 The Cut. Postal code: SE1 8LL. Etiksplan). Postal code: S-113 42. Tel: (08) funeral, which will take place two days later. NEW JERSEY: Newark: 87 A Halsey. Tel: 0171-928-7993. Compuserve: 31 69 33. Compuserve: 100416,2362 12 The Militant January 18, 1999 -GREAT SOCIETY------Law 'n order-In Detroit, Timo­ Fed up?-Toulouse, France: Ri­ calls itself"The Holy Land's Larg­ have referred to trembles in the with seven bathrooms and five bed­ thy Boomer fell from a canoe into oting youth smashed a police sta­ est Shopping Mall on the Internet." world financial market."- Invest­ rooms. $1 0 million. the Rifle River and hollered to his tion and threw stones and petrol Xmas Eve it featured a cyber-mid­ ment banker Roger Altman. friends for help. A County prosecu­ bombs at the police to avenge the night mass live from Bethlehem. Vir­ Oh, and by the way -Waiting tor asserted that Boomer uttered an death of a friend that morning. Six tual pilgrims can purchase olive Equality for all -Convicted tables, cashiering, and retail sales policemen were injured in the wood crosses. mother of pearl ro­ swindler Redman has begun serv­ are among California's top job op­ clashes. No youths were reported saries, and other religious trinkets ing his term. A real estate shark he portunities. Some pay almost injured. At least 150 police faced up from the Holy City. sold several million dollars worth of $16,000 a year. homes on virtually useless high Harry to at least 200 youth on a rampage Thought for the week- "The in Remeric, a working-class district. desert land, mainly to low-income Is that my computer shaking? - Latinos. He was given a year of"al­ bad news is the uncertainty in the "The rampage was triggered by the "The famous 1980 film, 'The China streets. Every day you wake up not Ring shooting of a youth by a stray po­ temate confinement" at home, and Syndrome,' depicts Jack Lemmon as fmed$10,000. knowing if there's going to be adem­ lice bullet, police said."-AP. Dec. nuclear power engineer. His memo­ onstration in the streets and if the 4, '98. rable line: 'I can feel it.' referred to No place like home-In a three­ demonstration is going to get out obscenity, in violation of a 101-year­ the rumbling of an incipient month period, California Realtors of control." -An unidentified "se­ old law. If convicted, he faces 90 But please, no virtual plastic - Chemobyl-style nuclear accident. sold a record 1,555 $!-million homes. nior U.S. official responsible for In­ days in jail and a $100 fine. A new web site (Jesus 2000. com) A contemporary version would Top sale was a Los Angeles pad donesia." Cuba's place in rebuilding world communist movement

The selection below is from "U.S. Impe­ led toward a system worse than capitalism. lutionary leaders in becom­ rialism has Lost the Cold War," a resolu­ d) In the process of advancing these ing, with no a priori limits tion adopted by the Socialist Workers Party tasks, this leadership forged a mass prole­ on what they can accom­ at its national convention in 1990. This ex­ tarian communist party that follows a revo­ plish. cerpt is the opening portion of Part 4 of the lutionary internationalist course. d) The internationalist resolution, titled "Rebuilding a World Com­ 3. This "subjective factor"- the genu­ course of the Communist munist Movement." The entire document inely internationalist character of the prole­ Party of Cuba has strength­ is published in issue no. 11 ofthe Marxist tarian vanguard guiding the workers state ened the defense of the magazine New International. Copyright© in Cuba- is the most important objective revolution against imperial­ 1998 by 408 Printing and Publishing Corp. outcome and contribution ofthe Cuban revo­ ist aggression. Reprinted by permission. lution. The consequences for the ( 1) Growing aware­ revolution's domestic and international tra­ ness of the international BY JACK BARNES jectories are inextricably intertwined. weight and historic respon­ l. The leadership of the Communist Party a) Cuban communists are revolution­ sibilities of the dictatorship of Cuba is the first since the Bolsheviks to ists of action, as modem communists have of the proletariat in Cuba give communist guidance to the develop­ been since the revolutions of 184 7-48 in Eu­ has been key to the com­ ment of a workers state. In the face of unre­ rope.! munist vanguard's capacity lenting U.S. imperialist economic, political, b) The communist course charted by to successfully organize and military pressures, that leadership has such a leadership of the working class is the and mobilize the workers maintained a revolutionary course at the fundamental precondition to advancing to­ and farmers to stand up to ward the construction of socialism on the imperialism's pressures and economic foundations of a workers state; it attacks for more than three is a precondition to catching and rectifYing decades. BOOK OF major errors in this process. (a) Willingness to c) Cuba has become a powerful objec­ make sacrifices to help oth­ TH·E WEEK tive force in world politics, beyond all bour­ ers who are fighting imperi­ geois or petty-bourgeois measures of its alism has increased con­ helm of the Cuban government for more than "geopolitical" or economic weight. sciousness of the stakes in­ thirty-one years. In the process it has 4. Revolutionary Cuba's policy is to con­ volved in advancing the a) reknit one of the strands of commu­ duct relations with other political forces in Cuban revolution. nist continuity that had been broken since the world according to proletarian interna­ (b) Voluntary par­ the Stalinist counterrevolution that de­ tionalist principle. ticipation in internationalist stroyed the Bolshevik Party and the Com­ a) The 1975 Programmatic Platform of missions reinforced aware­ munist International by the end of the 1920s; the Communist Party of Cuba states that ness that only through ris­ and the party's policy is "subordination ... of ing communist conscious­ Verde Olivo/J. Gonzelez b) established a current truly worthy the interests, of Cuba to the general inter­ ness and increasing volun­ Hundreds of thousands of Cuban troops served in Angola as of the name communist- the first outside ests of the struggle for socialism and com­ tary work could the revolu­ part ofthe revolutionary internationalist missions. Above, of the direct continuity of the small nucleus munism, of national liberation, of the defeat tion advance at home. Cuban volunteers there in February 1990. ofBolshevik-Leninists, including the Social­ of imperialism and the elimination of colo­ (2) Cuba's anti-im­ ist Workers Party, that had stood alone from nialism, neocolonialism and all forms of ex­ perialism has been bold but not reckless. Its lution is of decisive importance to the pace the late 1920s through the 1950s. · ploitation and discrimination ...."2 policies have demonstrated that and even the possibility of constructing so­ 2. The leadership team headed by Fidel b) The test of the internationalist (a) by subordinating the pace and cialism; and Castro successfully bypassed the obstacle course of the Communist Party leadership character of transforming domestic social (c) the only effective way of stand­ presented by a large Stalinist party and led in Cuba has been met above all in their deeds. relations to the needs of the world struggle ing up to imperialism's relentless offensive the toilers in making a revolution and estab­ ( 1) They have provided unstinting against imperialism (e.g., the material aid and is through continuously deepening the con­ lishing a workers and farmers government. political solidarity, economic and social as­ human resources devoted to helping scious leadership and voluntary participa­ a) Building on that revolutionary vic­ sistance, expertise, and military volunteers Angola defend itself), the progress and de­ tion of working people in the economy, in tory, this leadership deepened popular mo­ to revolutionary struggles and governments fense of the revolution is enhanced; politics, in the worldwide anti-imperialist bilizations culminating in the expropriation under fire by imperialism - from Vietnam to (b) the extension ofthe world revo- struggle, and in the revolution's defense. of the foreign and domestic capitalists and the Middle East, from Africa to the Ameri- landlords. On that foundation, a workers· cas. state was established. (2) The defeat of the South African -25 AND 50 YEARS AGO--­ b) Unlike the workers states in Eastern army at the battle ofCuito Cuanavale is the and Central Europe and Asia established latest example, with the most far-reaching following World War II, the new Cuban work­ consequences, of Cuban communists mar­ ers state was not bureaucratically deformed shaling the resources of the dictatorship of THE MILITANT TH£ MILITANT PUILISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE: from birth in a qualitative way by the domi­ the proletariat to advance revolutionary 1'\EW YORK, K_Y FIVE (5) CENTS nation of an increasingly crystallized petty­ struggles worldwide. A SOGIAUSl Nt\WSWf:tlllY/PUIUSH£0 lN IMl tNfllf$1i Of t'H£ WOII!!NG MO'H bourgeois caste. c) In pursuing its internationalist January 11, 1974 c) The leadership team headed by January 10, 1949 course, the Communist Party of Cuba Despite a pouring rain, members of the Castro led the revolution forward in such a ( 1) seeks to advance an uncompro­ It took a federal jury less than an hour to Socialist Workers Party picketed the Dutch way that it began the construction of social­ mising struggle against imperialist domina­ find three Indians innocent of government Consulate here tonight in protest against ism instead of veering onto a trajectory that tion anywhere in the world; charges stemming from the November 1972 the Dutch government's ruthless attack on (2) refuses to subordinate the inter­ occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs the Indonesian Republic. The call for the ests of workers and peasants to the preser­ (BIA) in Washington, D.C. demonstration was issued by the American vation of capitalist property and preroga- Keever Locklear, Dock Locklear, and Wil­ Labor Party in conjunction with two other tives; liam Sergeant were acquitted Dec. 19 on a Stalinist-front organizations. The New York (3) seeks collaboration with other series of charges, including possession of Local of the SWP came to the demonstra­ revolutionists ofaction, whether communists stolen BIA documents and threatening FBI tion in good faith, believing that the addi­ or not; and agents. tion of its forces would increase the impact (4) approaches the ranks of fighters The documents - containing secret in­ of the action. The SWP members had barely not as objects to be deployed, but as revo- formation on how the government op­ .joined the picket line when Stalinist leaders presses Indians - were taken during the demanded their withdrawal and got the cap­ 1. For a summary ofthe strategic conclusions occupation in order to bring the truth about tain in charge ofa police detachment to eject the founders of the modem communist workers the BIA's role to the public. them from the line. movement drew from those revolutionary The trial itself was one more example of The SWP then formed its own line adja­ struggles and their own active participation in the thousands of broken promises made by cent to the Stalinists and continued demon­ them, see "Communism and the Fight for a Popu­ the government to Indians. strating. Before the action was finished, the lar Revolutionary Government: 1848 to Today" At the end of the BIA take-over, federal SWP line was twice as large as the Stalinists'. by Mary-Alice Waters in New International no. officials made an agreement with the pro­ 3. The SWP distributed a leaflet denounc­ 2. Programmatic Platform ofthe Communist testers that no one would be prosecuted for ing Dutch imperialism and exposing Party ofCuba (Havana: Department of Revolu­ the action. Judge Arthur Stanley - a one­ Washington's role in the rape oflndonesia. tionary Orientation of the Central Committee of time sergeant in the Seventh Cavalry - It hai.led the Indonesian Trotskyists in their the Communist Party of Cuba, 1976), p. 120- wouldn't even allow this evidence in court, "revolutionary struggle for complete and 21. but the case fell through anyway. unconditional independence oflndonesia." January 18, 1999 The Militant 13 -EDITORIALS-----=..,;._..;____...... __ ___ Black farmers Continued from front page er. I'm not ready to roll over. The same people who took U.S. troops out of the Mideast! the land from us are still in these offices," said Eddie Slaughter, a Georgia farmer and vice president of the Black Working people should denounce Washington's arro­ through the NATO military alliance is being challenged Farmers and Agriculturalists Association (BFAA ). BFAA gant enforcement of the "no-fly zone" it has imposed on by other imperialists, especially by the rulers of France. scheduled a national meeting for February 20 in North Iraq and demand all imperialist troops get out of the Arab­ Washington's assault on the Iraqi people "is a war over Carolina to map out plans around the lawsuit and future Persian Gulf now. Opponents of this unrelenting aggres­ economic domination and control," states the article titled activities. sion need to deepen the steady campaign to get out the "Working-class campaign against imperialism and war," The outline of the settlement was reported by lawyers truth about U.S. imperialism and its war moves. We should in issue no. 7 of the magazine New International. The for the farmers at three contentious meetings in late Octo­ press for an immediate, unconditional end to the draco­ U.S. rulers' war moves are aimed "against other proper­ ber in Selma, Alabama; Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Durham, nian sanctions that are devastating the lives of millions of tied classes in other countries for the domination of raw North Carolina. But no written copy or summary of the Iraqi people. Baghdad has the right to defend its territory materials, markets, and access to superexploitation oflow­ deal was presented, at least to the large majority of farm­ and fire on intruders invading its airspace, especially those paid labor." The bombardment oflraq is also part of tight­ ers, prior to the settlement agreement. who slaughtered more than 150,000 Iraqis in the 1990-91 ening a military ring around the southern flank of Russia The settlement agreement offers Black farmers cash Gulf war and have bombed the country several times since. as the U.S. imperialists prepare for the day they will at­ payments of $50,000, a payment of 25 percent of that to Washington's casual use of its military might highlights tempt to use force to reestablish capitalist property rela­ the Internal Revenue Service to cover taxes, and wiping the reality that more military action is coming against tions there. The deflationary crisis of world capitalism has out of debts owed to the USDA. The settlement provides workers and peasants around the world. Already, Clinton accelerated the conflicts between Washington and its ri­ no relief from debt owed to private lenders that farmers administration officials have plans "on the shelf' for bomb­ vals. This competition is the primary motor behind the obtained when they could not get government loans. ing Iraqi airfields. The "no-fly zones" that Washington U.S. rulers' policy against Iraq, shared by the Democrats Black farmers who have an active discrimination case and London have imposed on two-thirds oflraq's airspace and Republicans alike. or those who file an affidavit that names specific indi­ for more than six years serve as a ready-made pretext for The assault on Iraq is an extension of the U.S. rulers' viduals in the USDA who denied them loans will be eli­ launching more bombing attacks. The spying "inspectors" barbarity and attacks on the rights of workers and farmers gible for the payment. Farmers who claim greater dam­ served the same purpose. at home - from the greater use of the police and hired ages will be required to have extensive documentation of The class of billionaire families that rules the United thugs against workers on strike to tlie stepped-up execu­ discrimination and have to stake their claim on an all or States has no way to accomplish its objectives in the tions, police brutality, deportations, and government at­ nothing gamble to be decided in a non-appealable tacks on affirmative action. That's why the urges Middle East short of an invasion with ground troops. They Militant arbitrator's decision. are politically weaker and further away from overthrow­ its supporters to broaden their campaign against imperial­ Lawyers for the farmers are awarded a down payment ing the government oflraqi president Saddam Hussein in ism and war by stepping up discussions among co-work­ of $1 million to be paid within 20 days and "reasonable order to establish an imperialist protectorate and bolster ers on the job, at plant gates, on campuses, among farm­ fees, costs and expenses." ers, and in working-class communities. Encourage them their dominance in the Arab-Persian Gulf region. Agriculture Secretary Glickman described the settle­ Instead the most recent bombings have generated more to join in protests, speak-outs, and forums discussing the ment as "closing a painful chapter" in USDA history. "We hatred of U.S. imperialism throughout the Arab world, U.S. assault on Iraq. Sell and study the Marxist magazine do not admit or deny any of the specific allegations in the increasing social upheaval and instability in the region, New International, especially issue no. 11 featuring the lawsuit," he said, "but the fact that we are settling with a which the imperialist powers are less able to suppress. article "U.S. Imperialism has Lost the Cold War" and is­ significant amount of money does indicate that we be­ This coincides with intensifYing pressures -throughout sue no. 7, with "Opening Guns of World War III: lieve there is substantial liability." the Middle East, from Moscow, and from Paris - to ease Washington's Assault on Iraq." Above all, this effort must No actions are to be taken against any of the USDA the pevastating sanctions imposed on the Iraqi people for be a steady, week-by-week campaign to win working officials who have carried out the racist discrimination. more than eight years. And the U.S. rulers can muster even people to demand: All imperialist troops out of the Middle They will stay in place with the same ability to delay and less support today from their allies, who are also rivals, East! End the sanctions against Iraq! Lift the no-fly zones! deny loans to Black farmers. "We'll face the same racist for military actions. Washington's hegemony in Europe U.S. hands offlraq! bigots as before in the county agriculture offices, with their hangman's nooses and confederate flags," Gary Grant told a TV reporter in Tillery. Private creditors will be on the $50,000 payments "like flies on sugar," as one farmer put it. And even for farmers Oppose Clinton impeachment who do not have much private debt, $50,000 does not go far in making up for losses from foreclosures and bank­ Working people should oppose the attempt by rightist The complicated system of "checks and balances," of ruptcies. A new tractor alone can cost $100,000. politicians to unseat William Jefferson Clinton with their which impeachment is one device, was crafted into the "We're being sold again into slavery," Eddie Slaughter demagogic cries of moral turpitude and the use of one of U.S. Constitution not to guarantee majority rule, but pre­ said. "A fair solution would allow me to go into court and the most undemocratic parts of the U.S. constitution. cisely to prevent it. The entire constitution was based on present my case. I'm not going to fight this on my own. Before Clinton entered the White House he was the twin principles of protection of private property and There is great discontentment from farmers I've talked to groomed by the liberal wing of the ruling class to carry rule by the wealthy minority. The impeachment provision in Georgia, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Without a fight, our out a bipartisan shift to the right on domestic policy. He was included for mediating and resolving competing in­ future is nothing but debt slaves to the USDA." became and has remained president as the death-penalty terests among the rulers. The "Founding Fathers" gave According to federal statistics, in 1920 some 14 per­ man. The "end-welfare-as-we-know-it" man. The man the population no vote on whether to remove a president cent of farms in the United States were owned by Blacks. who signed the Defense ofMarriage Act, which bans same­ from office before the end of four years, jealously reserv­ By 1992, the number had plummeted to 18,816 or less sex marriages, a flagrant intrusion by the state into people's ing such a powerful weapon for themselves. than 1 percent. Hundreds ofBlack farmers filed complaints private lives. The man who has turned the hated/a When the AFL-CIO tops, liberal civil rights groups, or. migra with the federal government over the past 15 years stating into an armed fortress of the government to push increas­ organizations such as the Communist Party USA support they were routinely denied aid automatically granted to ing numbers of immigrant workers into pariah status. Clin­ Clinton politically, or at least as a "lesser evil," while op­ whites. Many times their applications for government aid ton is now leading, in the faithful traditions of modem posing impeachment, they not only support the system were rejected with racist remarks. liberalism, U.S. imperialism's march toward war. that is the source ofthe long-term rightward movement in Over the last several years Black farmers began to or­ But Clinton is not being attacked from the right for be­ bourgeois politics in the U.S., they are helping the right ganize protests and demand government action. The cur­ ing a warmaker or for trampling on the rights working wing win influence. Giving any political credence to the rent stage of the fight by the Black farmers began with a people have won in struggle. The impeachment offensive liberal warmakers allows the right wing to be the predomi­ demonstration outside the White House in Washington in nant pressure on the Democratic administration and gives has the same aims as the "cultural war" that's the stock­ December 1996. in-trade of incipient fascist politicians like Patrick Bucha­ unnecessary victories to the rightists. After that demonstration the secretary of agriculture, nan: to drag the working class into the pit of the politics The only way to fight Buchananism or Trent Lottism Daniel Glickman, agreed to a temporary moratorium on of resentment and economic nationalism along with the effectively is by opposing Clinton and liberalism uncom­ farm foreclosures against Black farmers claiming discrimi­ promisingly and building a working-class movement that declining capitalist class. That's exactly what the Nazis nation and a series of"listening sessions" were set up in a pushed in the 1920s and early 1930s, as they decried the can take the moral high ground and forge a proletarian number ofcities in January 1997 to hear reports from farm­ "filth" of the Weimar Republic. party that can lead the toilers to take power out of the ers about discrimination they suffered. The booklet the As this salacious saga unfolds, bourgeois politicians of hands of the warmakers. The struggles by Black farmers USDA published about those "listening sessions," Civil all stripes attempt to sow confusion among working people against discrimination and for land and the numerous Rights at the US Department ofAgriculture, a report by about the alleged virtues of "representative democracy," battles by trade unionists, such as the 98-day strike by the Civil Rights Action Team, confirmed·the charges by that is, imperialist democracy. Buchanan's January 5 col­ coal miners who came out stronger through the fight farmers who are Black, women, Chicano, Puerto Rican, umn, for example, arguing for a trial and ousting of Clin­ against Freeman in Illinois, are producing a new working­ and Native American about blatant discrimination against class vanguard with the capacity to achieve this goal. ton was titled "The Constitution cannot be circumvented." them by the USDA. Farmers filed two suits against the USDA, Pigford v. Glickman and Brewington v. Glickman. In September, 1998 a report by the inspector General of the USDA re­ ported that discrimination at USDA was an ongoing prob­ Impeachment crisis deepens lem, even after repeated assurances by Glickman that they were a thing of the past. A month later Federal Judge Paul Continued from Page 10 ter of World War II, Harry Truman under whose adminis­ Friedman certified the plaintiffs as a class, an important their guns in opposing Clinton's removal. At the same tration the Cold War was launched, John Kennedy who victory for the farmers and a blow to the USDA defense. time the Clinton administration has taken steps to accel­ organized the invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs, and BFAA activists are available to speak before farmer, erate Washington's militarization drive and to renew pro­ Lyndon Johnson who escalated the war against Vietnam. union, and community groups. The BFAA can be reached posals for cutting Social Security. The goals of the Democratic Party's foreign policy are at 252-826-3244 in Tillery, North Carolina. This was revealed in Clinton's announcement of the the same as the Republicans: to keep as much of the world largest increase in military spending since the administra­ as possible open for the trade, investment and expl~ita­ Stu Singer is a member of United Transportation Union tion of Ronald Reagan in the 1980s (see article on page tion that U.S. capitalism needs. But as the world deflatiOn­ Loca/454. 3). The article in the January 2 New York Times repo~ing · ary crisis has accelerated and competition between the this decision, hinted how the White House may use th1s as main imperialist powers has grown, the disputes among part of cutting social programs. "The officials refused to the rulers themselves are getting out of their control. say exactly how Mr. Clinton would propose paying for The current impeachment crisis is deeper than what the the increase in military spending," the article said. "He bourgeoisie in the United States faced with the Watergate has already vowed not to spend the recent Federal surplus scandal in 1973-74, impeachment proceedings against then­ until he and Congress agree on a way to shore up the So­ president Richard Nixon, and Nixon's subsequent resig­ cial Security system, which is lurching toward insolvency." nation. That was an attempt to limit the damage to the In making these moves, Clinton is simply following in ruling class by the defeat ofU.S. imperialism in Vietnam the footsteps of hollowed liberal icons who have led a and the rise ofthe struggle for Black freedom in this coun­ bipartisan foreign policy of war since the 1930s. These try. That crisis was under a large measure of control. include Democratic presidents Franklin Roosevelt who This can't be said of the events that have led to Clinton's led Washington's entry into the inter-imperialist slaugh- trial in the Senate. The outcome is not predictable. 14 The Militant January 18, 1999 Strikers rally against latest contract offer by Kaiser Aluminum This column is devoted to report­ road switchmen from the United failed." ing the resistance by working Transportation Union, sailors from The proposed people to the employers' assault on the Sailors Union of the Pacific, and contract re­ their living standards, working hotel employees from the Hotel and flected Disney's conditions, and unions. Restaurant Workers Union. ongoing cam­ paign to phase out free health insurance, along ON THE PICKET LINE with free theme­ park passes and merchandise dis­ We invite you to contribute short The spirited rally lasted almost counts. Only one items to this column as a way for two hours. The strikers and their of Disney's five other fighting workers around the supporters chanted, "No contract health-care plans Militant/Bill Fabyunkey world to read about and learn from no work," "One day longer than would remain Delegates from five locals of United Steelworkers of America on strike against Kaiser and these important struggles. Jot down Kaiser," and "Scabs go home." free under the their supporters rally in Pleasanton, California, at corporate headquarters in early Decem­ a few lines about what is happening new contract. ber. In addition to holding rallies in Tacoma, Washington, and other centers ofthe strike, in your union, at your workplace, Two plans that Kaiser workers have been reaching out to others across the country for solidarity. or other workpbices in your area, Disney workers ratify had been free including interesting political dis­ twice-rejected contract would now charge premiums, and urns. A week before the third con­ Starting in May the company in­ cussions. MIAMI - Hourly workers at two others would double in price. tract vote Disney sent a two-page stalled new fences around the plant Walt Disney World in Orlando, In addition to the paltry wage in­ letter to employees to "encourage and brought in security guards. The TACOMA, Washington­ Florida, approved a new contract crease and health insurance co-pay­ you to carefully consider the con­ union was also hit with a court in­ Braving a record cold snap, more December 10 after twice voting it ments, many workers who perform sequences of your decision for you junction that puts a limit of II work­ than 100 strikers and their support­ down. The contract vote by mem­ as costumed characters opposed and your family when you vote." In ers at the entrance to the plant, only ers rallied at the Kaiser Aluminum bers ofthe Service Trades Council provisions that would increase the this context, the new contract passed eight of whom can be outside the plant here the night of December Union ends a two-month long labor amount oftime in costume while re­ with 3,676 workers voting in favor union trailer at the same time. 22. dispute with the entertainment gi­ ducing their breaks. and 903 against. The company has announced The action was in response to the ant. This organization is composed During the negotiations rank­ that it plans to demand the same company's latest contract offer, of six unions representing some and-file workers staged an informa­ Quebec foundry workers concessions from the 65 workers at made the previous week. Kaiser now 23,000 laundry workers, housekeep­ tional picket line at Disney World the Laperle plant it owns in St. Ours, proposes to eliminate 700 union ers, culinary, food and beverage and costumed workers tried to or­ resist company lockout east of Montreal, Quebec. Workers jobs from a nationwide workforce workers, animal handlers and spe­ ganize a mass sick-out to demon­ GRAND-MERE, Quebec- The there are members of the United of 3,100. This is almost twice the cialists, costumed characters and strate their solidarity, which was not 55 workers at Fonderie Grand-Mere Steelworkers of America, which is original threat to get rid of400 work­ parade performers, lifeguards, bus sanctioned, by union tops. At least in ths: city of Grand-Mere, an hour affiliated with the Quebec Federa­ ers. Strikers explain that job cuts is and monorail drivers, and ride op­ II workers from the Animal King­ and a half northeast of Montreal, tion of Labour - the largest labor one of the main issues in the strike. !;fators. dom, the Magic Kingdom, and have been locked out by their em­ federation on Quebec. Union offi­ Along with the Kaiser strikers, In November Disney workers Epcot were fired for strike activities. ployer since October 31. The com­ cials from Laperle who visited Grand­ who are members of the United twice rejected the recommendation In 1994 workers at Disney also voted pany wants to gut seniority, cut Mere said that they expected to be Steelworkers of America, support­ of their union officials to accept down two concession contracts holidays, and take back other gains locked-out when their contract ex­ ers came from a number of other Disney's offer of a 30-month con­ approved by the union leadership that workers have gained in previ­ pires at the end of December. unions in the Tacoma and Seattle tract, which would increase the before finally approving one. ous contracts. "They want to break area. They included: Tacoma Long­ starting wage from $5.95 an hour to After the second contract rejec­ the union," said local president Jeff Powers, a member of United shoremen, members of the Interna­ $6.25 an hour with workers topping tion this year, Disney threatened to Roger Vincent. The workers are Transportation Union Loca/845 in tional Association of Machinists out at $10.42 an hour after five withhold retroactive pay raises for members of the Union of Grand­ Seattle; Bill Kalman in Miami; and from Alaska Airlines and Boeing, years. "This offer was a slap in the workers that were due as ofNovem­ Mere Foundry Employees, which is Grant Hargrave, member ofInter­ Teamsters on strike at Jet Tool in face," said Duke Derdock, a cos­ ber 1. The company also said it affiliated with the Federation of national Association ofMachinists nearby Auburn, Service Employee tume character at Disney-MGM Stu­ would revoke all pay raises and im­ Democratic Unions -a small union Local 1758 in Montreal, contrib­ International Union members, rail- dios. "It was a great relief that it pose the higher health-care premi- federation in Quebec. uted to this column.

-LETTERS------~------Disagree on 'Bonapartism' also intend to market an equally tiny Only social revolution The recent articles concerning plastic villain, "Mr. Evil Special In­ will sweep away racism the new governor of Minnesota terests Man" for the plastic hero to The last paragraph of the edi­ fight. These action figures are and his "Bonapartist" politics have torial "Defend affirmative ac­ been foolish exercises in ultraleft planned for release to toy stores in tion!" in the December 14Mili­ dogmatism. time for the spring sales season. tant is misleading. After describ­ Reaching back in history to a pre­ Whatever we may think of the sort ing the movement that defeated of person, who would lend himself imperialist era political trend to de­ Jim Crow segregation in the scribe Mr. Ventura is rooted in a to such a scheme, we should take '50's and '60's, the editorial con­ this as a sign that Bonapartist narrow, simplistic view of fascism. cluded "it is only along this road Fascism is a complex current in im­ trends in American politics are not that a social movement [empha­ perialist societies in crisis that can a passing phenomena. sis added] can be built that will have a "left" face as well as a "right­ In political discussions with ultimately sweep away the dis­ wing" face. It expressed itself as friends and comrades, I have found crimination and racist cancer having "socialist" characteristics at that few have a very clear notion of that are a cornerstone of capi­ times in societies where socialism what Bonapartism is and perhaps a talist society." It is not a power­ was popular. In the United States, common definition would simplifY ful protest movement (like the "left-wing" fascism will naturally future discussion. There is a really civil rights movement) that will bring to the front libertarian slogans precise definition ofBonapartism in sweep away racist discrimina­ along with its nationalism, militarism, Leon Trotsky's pamphlet, Trade tion, but a social revolution and antidemocratic views. As Trot­ Unions in the Epoch ofImperialist where political and economic sky so wonderfully described fas­ Decay: "Bonapartism refers to a form power are put in the hands of cism, " ... capitalist society is push­ of class rule that is dictatorial in form forestalling the outbreak of revolu­ man has never been convicted of the toilers. "U.S. Imperialism Has ing up the undigested barbarism." and is usually headed by an indi­ tion, save the endangered social committing an unselfish or heroic Lost the Cold War" [in New Inter­ Have your Militant writers and vidual appearing as a 'strong man.' order. deed in his life. Still, a billion dollars national no. II] makes this point editors paid attention to Ventura's Originating in a period of social cri­ How is Bonapartism a danger to can buy a lot of air time, hire a gang succinctly. "In the United States, as cultural and emotional message? It sis or stalemate of contending class the working class? Let's think ofilie of "spin doctors" and maybe put a in other imperialist countries, 'na­ is a message of "muscle against forces, a Bonapartist regime tends central political message of plastic action figure into office .... tion time' and the socialist revolu­ everyday politics." It is Mussolini 's to elevate itself above the country's Bonapartist agitation: The workers, At present, the social crisis may tion will triumph together" (p. 240). message "modernized" and "Ameri­ classes and acquire a certain inde­ the farmers, the oppressed are inca­ not have developed enough for a The experience of the Cuban revo- . canized." pendence of action." pable of freeing themselves and classic Bonapartist regime. I don't lution shows that it will take gen­ Phillip Amadon What is essential in this defini­ must be rescued by a "hero." Work­ think we can expect a military coup erations following the victory of a Cincinnati, Ohio tion? That Bonapartism is a form of ers, don't strike! Don't fight in your in Minnesota, the shelling of the socialist revolution for the last ves­ emergency class rule in a period of own interests! Above all, don't form state legislature, or the crowning of tiges of racism and discrimination crisis. That the government is dic­ your own political party and strike Emperor Jesse in the local cathedral. to be "swept away." Defmition ofBonapartism tatorial in form (i.e. makes law by for power! Instead, put your fate, Still, we do have a capitalist politi­ Gary Boyers On Christmas Eve Jesse Ventura, decree of the executive) and is usu­ the fate of your class, the fate of cian winning high office with the Detroit, Michigan the Governor Elect of Minnesota, ally headed by a "strong man." The your country into the hands of the use ofBonapartist rhetoric and that held a press conference to an­ key element in any Bonapartist gov­ "tall, gray eyed, man ofdestiny. The is a warning signal to thinking work­ The letters column is an open nounce the release of a "Jesse ernment is that it attempts to bal­ savior of the people ...." ers. I somehow find it impossible to forum for aU viewpoints on sub­ Ventura action figure toy." It seems ance between contending class True, it is hard to take H. Ross believe that a "Reform Party" gov­ jects of general interest to our that the self- promoting Mr. Ventura forces and poses as "above poli­ (the Boss) Perot, or his professional ernor will govern in anyone's inter­ reader$. Please keep your letters has signed a contract allowing a tics." The usual historical role of wrestling protege, seriously as he­ ests other than those of the capital­ brief. Where necessary they will major toy company to produce and Bonapartism is to defuse a social roes. I mean, Perot is this weird little ist class. be abridged. Please indicate if market a tiny plastic copy of him­ crisis by a mixture of repression, guy with big ears and a squeaky Roy Jnglee you prefer that your initials be self. Apparently, the manufacturers concessions and demagogy and by voice .... As far as I know, the wee Elsmere, Delaware used rather than your full name. January 18, 1999 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT Imperialists threaten to extend their military intervention in Yugoslavia BY ANNE HOWIE have been picked up. AND NATASHA TERLEXIS The charges Albanians commonly PRISTINA, Kosova, Yugoslavia~ face today are of participating in or Washington and other imperialist assisting terrorism. Baroni told of a powers have stepped up their threats man arrested in Mitrovica while try­ of military intervention in Yugoslavia. ing to send bread to the village of On December 29, NATO secretary Skenderaj. He was charged with "as­ general Javier Solana declared, sisting the terrorists." Three Albanians "NATO is ready to intervene ifthe situ­ from Ferizaj were convicted December ation [in Kosova] requires." 26 of similar charges and sentenced The latest threats of intervention to· 14 years imprisonment between follow a renewed offensive by the them. On the same day the one of the Belgrade government against the Al­ three Albanian-language dailies, banian majority in Kosova. Some 40 Bujku, was closed down by the au­ government tanks and armored per­ thorities. "We expected a better situa­ sonnel carriers attacked villages in the tion with the OSCE but we're disap­ Podujevo area, in northern Kosova, pointed with the people who are here. beginning December 24. This assault, We don't expect anything which continued for four days, met good from them, we don't resistance from the Kosova Liberation know why they're here," Baroni said. Army (UCK), which is a part of the Militant photos by Anne Howie This early experience has fight for Kosova's independence from Despite brutal attacks by the Belgrade regime and also raised questions about the Yugoslav government in Bel­ imperialist intervention in the regic;m, workers in Ko­ the prospect of NATO grade. The attacks are occurring in sova and rest of Yugoslavia remain obstacle to reim­ troops being deployed. "If villages severely devastated by the posing capitalist rule. Above, onion members at Trepca they act like the OSCE, we large-scale offensive of Belgrade's mine near Mitrovica, who are fighting for self-deter­ . have no use for them," com­ military forces in September and Oc­ mination for Kosova and against sell-off of mine to for­ mented Baroni tober of last year. Roughly half the eign capitalists (see article below). From left, they are None of the predominant homes in the now snow-covered hills Xhafer Nuli, chair ofthe union at the Trepca mine; political parties in Kosova of the Drenica region, for example are union branch secretary Selami Helshani; and union­ are opposed to NATO inter­ shelled and uninhabitable. ist Shashevar Begu. Right, house in Drenica, Kosova, vention in the region. The decades-long struggle of eth­ that was shelled by government forces. nic Albanians in Kosova, who are 90 Ibrahim Rugova, leader of percent of Kosova's population of 2 the Democratic League of million, for national self-determination took placed persons" to their homes. NATO is the Serbs," he stated January 1, while trav­ Kosova (LDK) and president of the on a new urgency when the autonomous also building a milit:ary "extraction" force of eling to Macedonia to review French troops Kosovan government, which is not recog­ status of Kosova was revoked by the Ser­ 2,000 based in the neighboring Republic of who are there as part of the so-called extrac­ nized by Belgrade, has repeated his request bian government in 1989. Macedonia, ready to enter Kosova if they tion force. "And if the clashes continue and for a NATO military force in several Euro­ As they earlier did in Bosnia, the imperi­ decide to pull out the monitors. grow, the accords will no longer be valid pean capitals in recent weeks. alist powers are intervening in order to lay After the December 24 attacks, William and we will have to go back to the threats of Likewise, Mehmet Hajrizi, of the United the ground for eventually restoring the domi­ Walker, the U.S. diplomat who heads the military pressure which existed before." Democratic Movement (LBD), a coalition of nation of capitalism throughout the region OSCE's team of"peace monitors," stated that parties opposed to Rugova formed three of the Yugoslav workers state, and to tighten "both sides have gone looking for trouble Albanians discuss NATO intervention months ago, told the Militant, "Only those their encirclement of Russia. But they face and they have found it." Many Albanians these report~rs spoke who support war are opposed to an interna­ the challenge of crushing the resistance Up to now, the imperialist intervention has with during a late-December visit to Kosova tional presence here." The premier of Alba­ waged by Albanian miners and other work­ been carried out in the name of defending expected that the now 700-strong OSCE mis­ nia also stated in the Tirana parliament De­ ers, farmers, and youth in Kosova and the rights of the Albanian targets uf sion would help to protect them. However, cember 26 that "a NATO action would have throughout the region. Milosevic's force. Now an increasing num­ the actual conduct of the monitors is begin­ been decisive for a peaceful solution of the Over the past month, the Organization for ber of "unnamed diplomatic sources" are ning to paint a different picture for these Kosova problem." Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) being cited in the big-business press point­ fighters on the ground. Halit Baroni, of the The political leadership of the UCK also has been putting in place "peace monitors," ing to the Albanian resistance, and the UCK Human Rights Council in Mitrovica, an in­ calls for NATO support. In a statement re­ . eventually to number 2,000, as part of the in particular, as the real problem in Kosova. dustrial town near the capital Pristina, said leased December 25, the UCK General Staff Holbrooke agreement signed between the The Athens weekly New Europe quotes an so far 36 monitors are in place there. "But called on "the international community to Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's president unnamed diplomat involved in the negotia­ the police are still harassing Albanians," he punish the criminal Belgrade regime." At the Slobodan Milosevic and U.S. government tions saying, "Frankly, there's a growing feel­ stated. "Every day the police arrest young same time, the statement called for a lifting representative Richard Holbrooke, in Octo­ ing that the UCK is the problem. They are people." Baroni said the police go looking of the arms embargo "on the UCK, because ber, under threat of NATO air strikes. In a rude, sneering, and uncooperative. I'm per­ for youth from the nearby Drenica area, a only a strong liberation army will force Ser­ role similar to the "weapons inspectors" in sonally disgusted with their attitude and with stronghold of the UCK. "They arrest them, bia to respect the cease-fire and pave the Iraq, the OSCE force is supposed to monitor their actions." beat them, hold them for two or three days .... way for a just and lasting political solution the withdrawal of government troops and French defense minister Alain Richard Some are held for two or three months with to the Kosova issue." police from Kosova, and to oversee the re­ made similar charges publicly. "The main no contact." About 190 youth are currently Bujar Dugolli, president of the Indepen­ turn of more than 300,000 "internally dis- destabilizing factor today is the rebels, not "wanted" in Mitrovica, of whom 90 so far dent Students' Union of the University of Kosova, stated, "It is not the duty ofNATO to get independence for us. But it should Workers in Kosova resist sell-off ofindustry Continued on Page 12

MITROVICA, Kosova, Yugoslavia~ [to work]. We are also asking for back wages, own mine. The union explained to these From Pathfinder One of the aims ofthe Belgrade regime has pensions and benefits." workers that the jobs they were working were been to sell-offto foreign investors much of "Trepca is our place ~ we have done the jobs of miners sacked for being Alba­ The Truth the industry in Kosova and throughout the everything to fight for it," said Xhafer Nuli, nian ~some left straight away. Others left Federated Republic of Yugoslavia. About chair of the independent trade union at the after a while, and since the start of the war, about Yugoslavia 49 percent of the Serbian telecommunica­ Trepca mine, near Mitrovica. He said Dutch, all have now returned to Tuzla. WbyWorking People Should tions system, for example, is now owned by Bulgarian, U.S., Greek, and British investors Some investment has begun in Kosova, Oppose·lntervention Italian and Greek companies. have all shown interest in buying into the according to Nuli, since 1997, but the inde­ George Fyson, Argiris Malapanis, In Kosova, however, the trade unions mine. One Greek capitalist concern, the pendent trade unions appeal to workers not and jonathan Silberman have organized to block the sell-off of mines Mytilineos group, has actually bought sub­ to take the jobs. "We were offered 500 jobs Examines the and other resources. "As a democratic trade stantial interest in the Trepca mine and be­ by Mytilineos in January 1998, but they have roots of the car­ union, we don't accept colonialism," said gun some capital investments. Hajrizi sees not been taken." Agim Hajrizi, president of the Union ofln­ this as a political move by Belgrade to se­ The Union oflndependent Trade Unions nage in Yugoslavia, dependent Trade Unions of Kosova. "The cure Athens' diplomatic support. The union of Kosova adopted a resolution at its first where Washington transformation of property is possible only had appealed to the embassies of these congress in 1990 favoring privatization after and its imperialist after a political solution. It can only be sold countries not to invest. With the exception the fight for self-determination is won. But rivals in Europe are by the legal government of Kosova." The of Bulgaria, these governments also have the sense of ownership of the means of pro­ intervening militar'­ privatization drive has not been successful, troops participating in the NATO force be­ duction felt by workers is clear in speaking he said, for different reasons. "First, because ing prepared in Macedonia. with the miners of Trepca. "Under social­ ily in an attempt to of the war~ it doesn't create good condi­ The union has also tried to inform trade ism, the mine belonged to the workers," Nuli reimpose capitalist tions for bringing in capital. Another factor unions in other countries and other parts of told the Militant. "We invested in the mines. relations. $8.95 was the union protests. We don't respect Yugoslavia of the situation facing Albanian We consider them ours. Nearly half the min­ any agreement made by the Serbians with miners in Kosova. Nuli cited the case of min­ ers had relatives who died in the mine. We Available from bookstores, including those listed other countries. We were collectively dis­ ers from Tuzla in Bosnia, who were sent to have many reasons to claim this mine." ·on page 12. missed, so we must be collectively returned work in Trepca after an explosion at their -A.H. AND N.T.

16 The Militant January 18, 1999